By Kemo Cham
Liberia is on tenterhooks as the country braces for a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
The highest court of the land is expected to rule on the protracted battle for control of the House of Representatives.
The elected Speaker, Jonathan F. Koffa, in office since January 2024, who is from the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of former President George Weah, is fighting for his political survival against moves to unseat him by a group headed by a lawmaker from the ruling Unity Party of President Joseph Boakai.
The group known as the Majority Bloc, which is headed Richard Koon, say Koffa’s Speakership ended after an election by members in controversial circumstances in November. Although the group had majority MPs’ support at the time, Koffa and his supporters say the voting process was conducted outside the premises of the legislature, hence it didn’t follow proper procedure.
An earlier Supreme Court Ruling on the matter upheld the position of Koffa’s Minority Bloc that the voting didn’t follow proper procedure and suggesting that “the status quo” be maintained in the House. But there soon emerged a debate as to the exact meaning of that ruling and whether it was a binding judgement.
Koffa’s team again ran to the Supreme Court for an interpretation of this.
The hearings in the last few days have been so heated that it raised concern among the judges for a potential for violence in the wake of its pending ruling.
The Chief Justice, Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Youh, has reportedly demanded increased security around the Court’s Premises ahead of the ruling, citing the mysterious fire outbreak at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, which houses the House of Representatives.
Although his administration initially denied hands in the move to remove Koffa, President Joseph Boakai has since recognized Koon as Speaker, according to reports.
The Economic Community of West African States has called for respect for respect of the decision of the Supreme Court ahead of its ruling on a date that is yet to be disclosed.
