The sudden reduction in attendance from 50 to 45 during the Majority Bloc Session on Tuesday, November 26, raises significant concerns and speculates that embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa may be seeing a shift in support.
While it is true that the Majority Bloc, through a white ballot, elected Richard Koon as their Speaker, growing dissatisfaction among lawmakers, particularly those from the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), is hard to ignore. Verity News has learned that CDC lawmakers are disgruntled, believing that the true purpose of Speaker Koffa’s potential removal was not to make way for Montserrado District 11 Representative Richard Koon as Speaker, as had been suggested last Thursday, November 21.
According to sources, CDC lawmakers assert that Koffa’s removal addressed his perceived mismanagement and opened the door for a more suitable candidate to take over. However, they now question why Koon, whom they viewed as a political maneuver, was chosen instead. The situation has left many feeling betrayed and disappointed.
One notable absence from the session was Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, who chose not to attend without explaining. Sources indicate that there has been growing discontent within the Majority Bloc since Koon’s election, with some CDC members unwilling to serve under his leadership. These lawmakers claim that the initial push to remove Koffa was not intended to clear the path for Koon’s election.
The significant drop in attendance—from 50 to 45 lawmakers at such a critical juncture—has sparked further suspicion. Critics argue that Koon’s installation as Speaker came as a surprise and may have been politically orchestrated against the will of the Majority Bloc.
In a sign of growing unrest, Gbarpolu County’s District #1 Representative, who had previously aligned with the pro-Koffa bloc, was seen walking with Speaker Koffa on Tuesday, signaling a possible return to the former Speaker’s camp. In an interview, the representative explained that his return was motivated by the unclear actions of some factions who had pushed for Koon’s election without the consensus of all involved.
