MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah was ejected from a legislative session on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, after refusing to recognize Representative Richard Nagbe Koon as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The altercation stemmed from an ongoing political power struggle on Capitol Hill, with Kolubah vocally challenging Koon’s legitimacy as Speaker.
As Kolubah was escorted out of the session, he expressed defiance, stating, “I will be here again on Thursday. The Supreme Court ruling is very clear. Richard Koon is not the Speaker. We are lawmakers. We need to respect our rules.” This incident marks the second time in recent weeks that Kolubah has been removed from a session for rejecting Koon’s election as Speaker.
The first confrontation occurred on January 21, 2025, during a session convened at the Monrovia City Corporation following the devastating fire that destroyed the Capitol Building in December 2024. During this session, Kolubah refused to recognize Koon as Speaker, sparking a brief disruption in the chamber. Kolubah, an ally of the embattled former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, made it clear that he would not engage in any legislative proceedings until documents affirming Koon’s election were revoked. “I will be ready to vote if the documents bearing the name of the Representative from District 11, Richard N. Koon, claiming to be Speaker, are removed. Richard N. Koon is not our Speaker, as he was not elected,” Kolubah declared, causing an uproar.
Koon’s election as Speaker in November 2024 followed a resolution by the Majority Bloc, which declared the Speaker position vacant and accused Koffa of corruption and conflicts of interest. The Majority Bloc’s decision to elect Koon, supported by 50 lawmakers, was followed by a notification to the Executive, Judiciary, Senate, and diplomatic community about the leadership change. Despite this, Speaker Koffa has staunchly opposed the move, declaring it illegal and unconstitutional. He has refused to resign, insisting that he remains the legitimate Speaker of the House.
Koffa’s boldness has fueled divisions within the legislature, with his supporters, including Rep. Kolubah, continuing to back him. Kolubah’s refusal to accept Koon’s election emphasises the deepening rift in the House of Representatives, as tensions rise between Koffa’s allies and those supporting the Majority Bloc’s leadership choice. Kolubah’s actions earlier in the day, including parking his vehicle in Koon’s designated parking spot, further highlighted his firm stance against the new Speaker.
