Monrovia, Liberia: In a stunning political development, Speaker of the 55th National Legislature, Hon. J. Fonati Koffa, has officially resigned his position, effective 12 noon on May 12, 2025. The announcement was made public by Representative Musa Hassan Bility, Chairman of the Rule of Law Caucus.
According to Rep. Bility, Speaker Koffa informed members of the caucus of his decision to step down during a closed-door meeting earlier. The caucus, though expressing sadness, endorsed the decision, citing an increasingly hostile and unconstitutional environment within the government.
But the resignation has not come without controversy. Multiple sources within the Legislature allege that Speaker Koffa was offered substantial financial incentives to vacate the powerful position. While official confirmation remains elusive, reports circulating within Capitol Hill suggest that the decision was less about principle and more about pressure — with claims that the Executive Branch or affiliated actors facilitated the payout to neutralize Koffa’s influence in the growing standoff between the Legislative and Executive branches.
“The Executive’s open defiance of the Supreme Court, despite repeated rulings, shows we are dealing with a crisis far beyond the individual office of the Speaker,” Bility said. “We served under Koffa with pride, and while we regret this outcome, we welcome him back to the floor as a member of our caucus.”
Koffa’s resignation comes amid escalating tension over the Boakai administration’s alleged constitutional violations and deepening power struggles within the House. The Speaker, once seen as a steadying force and a key institutional figure, now exits under a cloud of speculation, leaving a vacuum in the already fractured legislative landscape.
As the political storm brews, opposition lawmakers and civil society groups are calling for full transparency surrounding the circumstances of Koffa’s departure.
Koffa’s resignation came after losing grip amongst his peers with now speculation of hundreds of thousands changing hands.
