Monrovia – In an escalating political battle within the House of Representatives, the Majority Bloc has extended the suspensions of two Minority Bloc members, accusing them of violating previous mandates.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected] and Willie Tokpah, [email protected]
Bong County Representative Marvin Cole and Montserrado County Representative Edward Papie Flomo, both of whom from the Minority Bloc, had their suspensions renewed for an additional thirty session days — equivalent to three more months.
The Majority Bloc-controlled Plenary reached this decision during the 16th Day Sitting of the First Quarter of the 2nd Session on Tuesday, March 18.
The Majority Bloc claims that Reps. Cole and Flomo were seen multiple times on Capitol grounds, violating the terms of their suspensions, which barred them from the premises.
This latest action has raised alarms among political observers, who accuse the Majority Bloc of ‘weaponizing’ the suspension process to silence dissent ahead of critical Supreme Court hearings that could alter the legislative balance of power.
The Majority Bloc’s extension of the suspensions follows an initial decision made in November 2024, when Cole, Flomo, and Montserrado District 15 Representative Abu Bana Kamara were suspended for misconduct.
Kamara complied with the terms of his suspension, according to the Majority Bloc, but Cole and Flomo reportedly continued to defy the restrictions, leading to the extension of their suspensions until May 2025. This brings the total number of lawmakers under suspension to 18.
In an unexpected move, the suspension of Representative Kamara was lifted, with Plenary restoring his rights, privileges, and benefits after he adhered to the terms of his suspension.
The renewed suspensions have intensified the ongoing power struggle between the Majority and Minority blocs. In response to the extension of his suspension, Marvin Cole appeared on the Voice of Liberia radio station on Tuesday, reiterating his defiance.
“The only authority that can validate my suspension is the Supreme Court of Liberia. If the Supreme Court rules on March 26 in favor of the Majority Bloc and declares their actions legal, then I will accept my suspension. However, if the Supreme Court rules that the Majority Bloc’s actions are illegal and they continue to insist on my suspension, we will make this country ungovernable for President Joseph Boakai.
“All 25 representatives from the Majority Bloc who are facing illegal suspensions have the capacity to mobilize over one hundred thousand of our constituents to protest at the Capitol Building. This is a warning to the president,” Cole warned.
In addition to the suspensions of Cole and Flomo, the Majority Bloc also suspended several lawmakers for persistent unexcused absences, including embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, Musa Bility, and others from the Minority Bloc, in accordance with House Rule 21.1, which dictates that members who miss sessions without approval for more than two weeks are subject to penalties.
The Majority Bloc has also warned that further violations of the suspension terms will lead to additional disciplinary action.
Koffa, a key figure in the Minority Bloc, also condemned the Majority Bloc’s action.
Koffa voiced his opposition to his suspension and the renewed suspensions of Cole and Flomo. He went on to criticize the Majority Bloc’s interpretation of a Supreme Court ruling, claiming, “If the Supreme Court grants our request, we will return to status quo ante and we expect everyone to abide by the law. Without the rule of law, our democracy will perish.”
Koffa further emphasized the dangerous precedence he believes the Majority Bloc is setting. “If we don’t like the law, then we need to change it. There is a process for that,” he added.
The ongoing battle in the House of Representatives is now shifting to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear two pivotal cases that could reshape the political landscape.
The first, a Bill of Information, was filed by Koffa and other members of the Minority Bloc against the Speaker of the Majority Bloc, Richard Koon and his leadership. The case challenges the authority of the Majority Bloc’s actions, which some allege have been politically motivated.
The second case involves a petition for the Writ of Mandamus, filed by several members of the Minority Bloc, including Cole, Flomo, and others. This petition seeks to compel the Ministry of Finance to address legislative funding issues and resolve financial disputes that have further complicated the power struggle in the legislature.
The Supreme Court hearings are set for March 19 and March 26, respectively, with legal representatives from both sides preparing to present their arguments before the full bench.
The upcoming Supreme Court rulings could either solidify or undermine the Majority Bloc’s grip on power, with far-reaching consequences for Liberia’s political future.
