By: Frank P. Martin
MONROVIA: The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Liberia’s leading opposition political party, is now grappling with internal conflict as its expelled executive member, Thomas P. Fallah, has vehemently protested against his expulsion, saying he was never given any due process.
Representative Fallah who is also Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, finds himself unceremoniously ousted from the ex-ruling CDC for allegedly collaborating with the current ruling Unity Party (UP), to remove House Speaker, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa.
The CDC Executive Committee—the highest decision-making body of the party—expelled Representative Thomas Fallah on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, for his disrespectful actions towards the party mandate in the removal saga of Speaker Koffa, an executive of the CDC.
Earlier, the party mandated its lawmakers to support the Speaker Koffa but Deputy Speaker Fallah was defiant to the party’s instruction, and joined the ‘majority bloc’ as the Speaker removal crisis intensified. His actions to form part of the ‘majority bloc’ led to his expulsion from the CDC.
But, immediately following his expulsion, the Lofa County District#-1 Lawmaker released a fiery statement.
Representative Fallah in a statement categorically condemned the CDC’s leadership, describing its actions as a “betrayal of the party’s founding ideals.”
In the face of adversity, the Deputy Speaker remains resolute, declaring, “Expelled but unshaken,” Fallah said.
Fallah’s expulsion stems from allegations of defying the party’s agenda, a claim he vehemently denies.
However, the process leading to his removal has sparked outrage, with Fallah accusing the CDC leadership of ignoring its own rules.
Similar to Fallah’s cry for due process, Speaker Koffa complained to the Supreme Court of Liberia after Fallah presided over his removal by some members of the 55th Legislature but Fallah did not listen to Koffa’s due process complain.
Interestingly too, quoting the party’s constitution, Fallah pointed to the requirement for due process in disciplinary actions, including formal charges, a hearing, and the opportunity to defend oneself.
“Instead, they chose to act with impunity, violating the same principles they claim to uphold,” Deputy Speaker Fallah cried more about due process.
As Speaker Koffa explained about the respect for the rule of law and due process was ignored, Fallah also referred to Chapter I, Rule 6 of the CDC Constitution, which states: “Any person faced with disciplinary proceedings shall receive due written notice of any hearing and of the basic allegations and charges against him/her and be afforded reasonable opportunity to make his/her defense.”
According to Fallah, these steps were blatantly disregarded, raising questions about the motives behind the expulsion.
“This is not about upholding the rule of law within the party; it’s about silencing voices that challenge their self-serving agenda,” he asserted.
For Fallah, the expulsion is a culmination of simmering tensions within the CDC’s hierarchy.
Once celebrated as a ‘trench warrior’ and steadfast advocate of grassroots democracy, his recent decisions in the House of Representatives have placed him at odds with top members of the party’s inner circle.
Some quarters of the CDC accused him of undermining the party’s unity, but Fallah insisted that his actions were in the best interests of the Liberian people.
“When I took certain positions, I did so with the future of Liberia in mind, not narrow political gains,” he explained.
However, Fallah expressed confidence that the truth about his expulsion would eventually come to light.
“This is a temporary setback,” he said. “The real traitors within the CDC will be unmasked, and history will vindicate me.”
“Expulsions can remove individuals from structures, but they cannot erase legacies or principles,” Fallah concluded.
“The CDC is more than a party—it is a movement, and no amount of political maneuvering can change that,” he defiantly declared.
