MONROVIA, LIBERIA – During a session held on January 21, 2025, at the Monrovia City Corporation, Montserrado County District 10 Representative, Hon. Yekeh Kolubah, vocally opposed the legitimacy of Richard Koon’s election as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The session, convened by the Majority Bloc due to the devastating fire that destroyed the Capitol Building on December 18, 2024, witnessed a brief disruption when Rep. Kolubah refused to recognize Koon as the rightful Speaker, sparking tension in the chamber.
Kolubah, a staunch ally of the embattled Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, made it clear that he would not participate in proceedings until the documents that designated Richard Koon as Speaker were removed. “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 during the session, causing a brief uproar in the room.
In November 2024, the Majority Bloc had elected Richard Koon as the new Speaker after declaring the position of Speaker vacant. This resolution, supported by 50 lawmakers, came after they accused Speaker Koffa of corruption and conflicts of interest, which led to calls for his removal. The decision, read by Deputy Chief Clerk Comicks Chea, led to Koon’s election in a joint session. Following the election, the Majority Bloc instructed the clerical staff to officially notify the Executive, Judiciary, Senate, and diplomatic community of the leadership change. They also called on the Executive to strip Speaker Koffa of all privileges and transfer them to Koon.
However, Speaker Koffa has opposed his removal, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. He has remained firm in his stance, stating that he will not resign, asserting that he remains the legitimate Speaker of the House. Koffa’s defiance has contributed to the deepening divisions within the House, as his supporters, including Rep. Kolubah, continue to back him despite the Majority Bloc’s decision to elect a new Speaker.
Rep. Kolubah, along with other allies of Speaker Koffa, has consistently opposed the Majority Bloc’s decision, creating a divide in the legislative body. The refusal to accept Koon’s election as Speaker and the vocal opposition to the Majority Bloc’s leadership highlights the continuing factionalism within the House of Representatives. Kolubah’s actions, including parking his vehicle in the designated Speaker’s parking spot earlier in the day, underscore his firm stance in support of Koffa, despite the majority’s decision to elect a new Speaker.
