-As Their Numbers Fail to Add Up
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia – An attempt by Liberia’s self-proclaimed “Majority Bloc” to remove House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa has collapsed into disarray, with their claims of numerical strength unraveling in a series of contradictions and missteps.
During a live-streamed press conference, only 31 lawmakers were visibly present—far fewer than the 37 members the bloc claimed to have in attendance. The situation grew more chaotic when a flawed roll call by the Clerk of the House produced conflicting absentee counts, ranging from 10 to 14 missing lawmakers.
Despite the inconsistencies, the bloc later astonishingly asserted it had 49 supporters—a claim that defies basic arithmetic. Even if their initial figures were accurate (37 present + 14 absent = 51 total), the numbers still wouldn’t align.
Defections and Dubious Inclusions
The bloc’s credibility took another hit with reports that Reps. Bernard “DJ Blue” Benson and Austin B. Taylor** had withdrawn their support, erasing any gains from recent defections.
Additionally, questions linger over the inclusion of Reps. Taa Wongbe and Moima Briggs Mensah, who have publicly denied affiliation with the anti-Koffa movement.
Even with the recent additions of Reps. Thomas Romeo Quioh and Emmanuel Dahn, the bloc’s maximum strength would only reach 45—well short of the two-thirds majority required to remove Speaker Koffa.
The debacle has intensified concerns over the legitimacy of the anti-Koffa push, with critics accusing the bloc of fabricating signatures and inflating numbers. “Why are they faking their numbers?” asked a political observer, reflecting widespread skepticism.
