By Vaye A. Lepolu

Six suspended lawmakers from the House of Representatives of the 55th National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia are facing a “No Go Zone” order, preventing them from attending the upcoming State of the Nation Address on January 27, 2025, at 4:00 PM.

The Director of Press and Public Affairs at the House of Representatives, Robert Haynes issued this directive during the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press conference on Tuesday. He cites adherence to legislative rules. The House of Representatives suspended these members for allegedly disrupting legislative functions.

The suspended lawmakers include Eugine Kollie, Edward Flomo, Marvin Cole, Alex Noah, Frank Saah Foko, Abu Kamara, and Norman Zinnah. A statement from the House urges them to avoid the Capitol grounds during the SONA.

President Joseph Boakai is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) comes January 27, 2025, fulfilling Liberia’s constitutional requirement.

The Suspensions

On December 13, 2024, the “Majority Bloc” of the House suspended four members under Rule 48.7(c) for violations. The suspended lawmakers are Frank Saah Foko Jr., Eugine K.M. Kollie, Zinnah Norman, and Alex S. Noah. Their suspension lasts thirty session days, during which they will forfeit salaries and benefits.

Additionally, on November 19, 2024, three more lawmakers—Edward P. Flomo, Abu Kamara, and Marvin Cole—were suspended for one month due to misconduct.

The Heat

Tensions escalated on October 17, 2024, when 47 members sought to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa over allegations of misconduct. Following a controversial election, Representative Richard Nagbe Koon was declared the “new Speaker,” a move many labeled fraudulent.

Despite the chaos, Speaker Koffa remains defiant. He recently announced that all state security personnel assigned to him would be withdrawn, but he insists he will continue to uphold the rule of law and the Liberian Constitution. “You can be riding in the hurricane’s eye and still have peace within,” he stated.

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *