By Jerromie S. Walters
The House of Representatives of Liberia, under the leadership of the Majority Bloc, has suspended two lawmakers for what they consider as “violating the House’s attendance rules.” Representative Jerry K. Yogboh of Electoral District #12, Montserrado County, and Representative Muka K. Kamara of Electoral District #14, Montserrado County, were both suspended for 30 meeting days following their unexcused absences from legislative sessions.
The suspensions were communicated to the lawmakers in separate letters dated March 13, 2025, signed by Mildred N. Sáyoń, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. The letters cited Rule 21.1 of the House’s Rules and Procedures, which mandates that no member shall stay away from sessions for more than two weeks without the express approval of the House. For absences of less than two weeks, permission must be sought from the Speaker. Violators are subject to penalties deemed appropriate by the House leadership in consultation with Plenary.
According to the letters, both lawmakers were absent from five sessions as of March 11, 2025, without providing any verbal or written explanation to Plenary. This absence, equivalent to two and a half weeks, constitutes a clear violation of the House’s rules. As a result, the Majority Bloc invoked Rule 43.7c, which allows for the suspension of a member for up to 30 meeting days and the withholding of salaries and allowances for the duration of the suspension.
The letters stated, “The House of Representatives (IN SESSION) has suspended you for the period of 30 meeting/session days as of the date of this communication. Hence, all benefits/privileges you enjoyed previously are hereby suspended pending the lifting of your suspension.”
Targeting Minority Members
Both suspended lawmakers, Representative Yogboh and Representative Kamara, are members of the Minority Bloc, which has been at odds with the current leadership under Montserrado County District #11 Representative Richard Nagbe Koon. The Minority Bloc has been vocal in its opposition to Koon’s leadership, and the suspensions are seen by some as a move to further marginalize dissenting voices within the House.
The Minority Bloc has struggled to form a quorum to conduct legislative business, as required by the Constitution. It is also reported that similar communications have been forwarded to embattled former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, who has been at the center of the House’s ongoing leadership crisis.
Leadership Crisis Deepens Division
The suspensions come amid a protracted leadership crisis within the House of Representatives, which began on October 17, 2024, when some lawmakers moved to remove Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa over allegations of misconduct. The controversial election of Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker on November 21, 2024, further polarized the legislative body, with Koffa’s supporters denouncing the process as fraudulent and illegitimate.
The crisis reached a critical juncture in early December 2024 when the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that the Majority Bloc’s actions during the leadership standoff were “ultra vires” (beyond their legal authority) if they deviated from the intent of Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution. Despite this ruling, both the Executive Branch and the Liberian Senate endorsed the Majority Bloc’s actions on December 10, 2024, deepening the divide within the House.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the House of Representatives of Liberia, led by the Majority Bloc, announced a Reconciliatory Retreat under the theme of unity, Integrity, and Modernization. Scheduled for March 13-15, 2025, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County, the retreat aims to stimulate unity and collaboration among lawmakers. However, pundits say the initiative has been overshadowed by the Majority Bloc’s recent actions, which many argue have deepened divisions rather than healed them.
The retreat, intended to reconcile the House after months of leadership turmoil, appears to have lost its essence. On the same day the retreat was announced, the Majority Bloc voted to suspend Montserrado County District 10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, for 30 session days without pay or benefits. This decision, coupled with the ongoing suspension of seven other lawmakers—Abu Kamara, Marvin Cole, Frank Saah Foko, Edward Papie Flomo, Eugene Kollie, Alex Noah, and Zinnah Norman—has tossed doubt on the sincerity of the bloc’s reconciliatory efforts.
