By: Varney Dukuly
MONROVIA: The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), on Friday, December 1, 2023, nominated Grand Kru County Representative, Jonathan Fonati Koffa, the current Deputy Speaker, to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Lower House comprises 72 representatives from the fifteen (15) counties, but it remains unclear if the all of the governing party’s lawmakers will commit to backing Cllr. Koffa.
CDC officials hinted this paper that Representative Koffa got his endorsement after intensive internal conversation, which puts him ahead of Representative Thomas Fallah of District-5 Montserrado County.
In the October 10 polls, Fallah won Lofa County District-1 seat. Fallah is also a ranking member of the House of Representatives and an ally of President George Manneh Weah who had decided earlier to seek the party’s nomination.
Mr. Fallah puts himself forward as protest candidate against Cllr. Koffa, the current Deputy Speaker of the Lower House. He is said to be favored by many of the old lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
Despite approving the candidacy of Cllr. Koffa by the CDC, the deputy Speaker’s quest to ascend to the speakership, nevertheless, remains tedious as another group of lawmakers, many of whom are members of the ‘independent bloc’ are reportedly backing the candidature of newly elected Nimba County Representative, Musa Hassan Bility.
Koffa hoped to win the hearts of a large number of lawmakers, but with independent lawmakers seemingly unable to reach consensus, it was not clear whether he could succeed.
“A balanced government regionally and politically, is in the best interest of the Liberian people,” said Chairman Mulbah Morlu of the CDC.
“In this light, the party intends to support its caucus quest for the speaker position and have endorsed the candidacy of Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, a well-balanced political and regional partisan, as its sole candidate for the speakership.”
Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh of Margibi County said for over the three years, Koffa has proven himself to be trustworthy and determined to advance good policy agenda irrespective of party’s affiliation.
“It is incumbent upon us to lobby and make Deputy Speaker Koffa a consensus candidate who can serve as the most trusted caretaker and good steward of the gavel,” said Representative Dixon Seboe of Montserrado County, a supporter of Koffa.
Still, there exist some reservations about Cllr. Koffa, especially among some supporters of the incoming administration.
Should Koffa, a United States trained legal scholars succeeds in attract majority of the lawmakers to his side, he would be the third powerful personality in in Liberia line to the presidency, capping a remarkable rise to political stardom.
However, CDC Chairman Mulbah Morlu has called on independent and likeminded lawmakers to support Koffa as the consensus candidate.
Cllr. Koffa recently received a consensus support from 40 lawmakers who reached out to him to encourage him to seek the nomination for the House speaker position.
In response, then, Koffa said: “I am humbled to have so many colleagues encouraging me to seek the nomination for Speaker post. However, after much prayer and deliberation, we will be making a formal declaration.”
He also hoped to serve as Speaker under the UP-led government and expressed confidence that he can be more trusted as he would serve the best interest of Liberia and its people.
