MONROVIA – Following a major legal triumph, House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has suggested he may step down from his post, even as the Supreme Court reaffirmed his legitimacy as the duly elected Speaker of the 55th Legislature.
Addressing the public via social media shortly after the ruling on Wednesday, Koffa welcomed the court’s decision as a constitutional vindication but signaled a readiness to make what he called “the ultimate sacrifice” in pursuit of unity within the fractured House of Representatives.
“I am not unmindful that reconciliation and progress may require that I make the ultimate sacrifice, and I am not unwilling to pay that price,” Koffa said, in a remark that has since triggered widespread speculation about a possible resignation.
The Supreme Court, in a strongly worded ruling delivered by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh, declared as unconstitutional any sitting of the so-called Majority Bloc in which Speaker Koffa was not presiding, despite his presence and capacity to do so. The decision effectively nullified attempts by the bloc, led by Representative Richard Nagbe Koon, to delegitimize Koffa’s speakership.
Yet, rather than celebrating the ruling as a personal victory, Koffa struck a conciliatory tone. He announced his intention to reach out to Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and Rep. Koon to form a “Reconciliation and Transitional Committee,” aiming to bridge the deep divisions that have plagued the House in recent months.
“To my colleagues on the other side, we identify with your just grievances and call on you to join us in ending the stalemate on Capitol Hill. Come, let us reason together,” he urged.
The months-long impasse began when the Majority Bloc declared Koffa’s leadership illegitimate and moved to replace him. The standoff led to a legal showdown, culminating in Wednesday’s landmark judgment by the Supreme Court that restored order to the legislative body.
Referencing U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Koffa warned against politics driven by fear, asserting, “We should not negotiate out of fear, but we should not fear to negotiate.” He emphasized that reconciliation, not retribution, must guide the Legislature’s next steps.
Although he stopped short of announcing his resignation, Koffa’s carefully crafted message appeared to prioritize institutional healing over personal power. In thanking his supporters, he called on lawmakers to use the moment as a demonstration of the country’s democratic resilience.
“Even with the sacrifice, let us show Liberia how democracy is built,” he said.
