By By: Domingo Dargbeh
Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Speaker of the 55th Legislature
Amid political tension among members of the 55th National Legislature, embattled Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa vowed not to resign, citing a lack of constitutional basis for his removal.
Addressing a team of reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Speaker Koffa stated that the Supreme Court could dissolve the legislature if the Speaker adjourns five successive sessions for failing to meet quorum. “We can adjourn, and we can compel,” he said, emphasizing that minority members of the House must mandate majority members to attend sessions.
On Tuesday, majority members of the House of Representatives convened in the Joint Chamber, while Koffa’s supporters assembled in the main chamber. Koffa’s group, unable to meet the required quorum of 37 members, adjourned the session. He directed the Chief Clerk to notify absent lawmakers to attend the next session scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2024.
When asked about the consequences if the majority bloc members failed to attend, Koffa mentioned the possibility of escalating the matter to the Supreme Court.
In response to questions about the legality of the majority bloc convening a separate session, Koffa clarified that their gathering was not valid under legislative rules. “Session membership is under the gavel of the Speaker or, in his absence, the Deputy Speaker,” he explained. He dismissed any suggestion that the assembly of 43 lawmakers was anything more than a meeting under the freedom of association.
Koffa firmly rejected the idea of resignation, stating, “That is not possible; resignation is not an option for us.”
Acknowledging internal tensions within the House of Representatives, Speaker Koffa admitted that his hands-off leadership style may have contributed to the discord. “I acknowledge that we adopted a laissez-faire approach to leadership to allow more interactions and a decentralized form of decision-making, and that, perhaps, did not go well. I take responsibility for that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa is calling for reconciliation among members of the House of Representatives.
