Monrovia — The 55th House of Representatives has resolved to return to its official chambers at the Capitol Building to resume legislative sessions, following months of internal divisions and a leadership dispute.
By Francis G. Boayue, [email protected]
The House will reconvene under the leadership of Majority bloc Speaker Richard Koon no later than the second Tuesday in March 2025.
This decision comes after a protracted power struggle over two individuals claiming the speakership, which had forced the House to hold sessions in temporary locations.
On February 4, 2025, lawmakers voted to restore operations at the Capitol in a bid to resolve the ongoing crisis and restore normalcy to the legislature.
The move followed a petition from Montserrado County District 4 Representative Michael Thomas, who formally requested the return to the Capitol during the House’s regular session.
In his petition, Representative Thomas emphasized that the Capitol is the official seat of the Legislature, and that the House should resume its functions there.
“Dear Mr. Speaker, Article 29 of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia stipulates that the legislative power of the Republic shall be vested in the Legislature, which is composed of two separate chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives, both of which must pass all legislation. Therefore, we seek the approval of plenary for the return of our regular sittings at the House Chamber in the Capitol Building, the official seat of the Legislature,” Rep. Thomas stated.
The Montserrado lawmaker further affirmed that there is only one unified House of Representatives, which currently operates under the leadership of Koon and Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah.
“In the Legislature, we have one unified House of Representatives, led by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker as first among equals. Therefore, we request plenary’s approval to return to the House Chamber in the Capitol Building for our regular sittings,” Thomas added.
In response to Rep. Thomas’s petition, Plenary has instructed the Rules, Order, and Administration Committee to oversee the preparations for the House’s return to the Capitol.
The committee will assess the facilities and ensure they are ready to meet the necessary standards before the scheduled transition.
For months, the House of Representatives has held sessions in temporary venues, including the now-destroyed Joint Chambers and, more recently, the Monrovia City Hall, due to the internal conflict that led to the leadership deadlock.
The return to the Capitol is seen as a crucial step toward restoring stability and legitimacy to Liberia’s legislative process.