IPNEWS: Barely seven months following the controversial removal of former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, has gathered that rumors of an imminent removal of House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon are true, as a growing rebellion within the Liberian House of Representatives has led to 48 lawmakers endorsing a resolution to oust him.
The plot originally began with a core group of 22 aggrieved lawmakers from the “Majority Bloc”. Their numbers have now surged to 48 representatives pushing for his removal.
The disgruntled lawmakers have threatened to deny Speaker Koon a legislative quorum and boycott key government events to freeze legislative proceedings until he is removed.
Prominent lawmakers originally aligned with Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah have openly withdrawn their support from Koon, stating that electing him was never part of their long-term plan.
The lawmakers seeking his removal have compiled a multi-count resolution citing several major grievances: Administrative and Financial Failures, Staff and Civil Servant Hardship, and Loss of Legislative Independence
Koon faces accusations of poor leadership, a complete lack of accountability, and financial malpractices.
Some of the aggrieved Lawmakers have cited the mistreatment of legislative and central administration staff regarding salary adjustments, alongside a failure to secure timely holiday pay for civil servants.
Latest reports says a leaked communications and public scrutiny regarding complicated marital controversies have led to calls from figures like Representative Marvin Cole for Koon to at least recuse himself due to compromised moral standing.
Under the accusation of Loss of Legislative Independence, critics argue that Speaker Koon is overly dependent on political backing from President Joseph Boakai’s Executive Mansion to hold onto power, violating the constitutional separation of powers.
Despite the mounting pressure, Speaker Koon and his remaining allies are actively pushing back against the removal efforts
The Factional allies, including Representative Thomas Romeo Quioh, have stated that the allegations are legally and procedurally insufficient to justify an ouster.
Speaker Koon has publicly rejected the rebellion, asserting that he does not believe in partisan legislative blocs and will continue to serve.
Under Article 49 of the Liberian Constitution, removing a sitting Speaker requires a strict two-thirds majority vote (49 out of 73 lawmakers). With 48 lawmakers currently on board, the anti-Koon faction is just one vote shy of the required constitutional threshold
On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the House of Representatives failed to convene its regular sitting due to the absence of a sufficient number of lawmakers, prompting Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon to threaten disciplinary measures, including salary reductions for persistently absent members.
The scheduled session was abruptly halted after only 15 lawmakers appeared on the floor, far below the number required to conduct official legislative business. The lack of quorum forced the House to suspend proceedings, delaying discussions and decisions on matters awaiting legislative action.
Addressing reporters following the failed sitting, Speaker Koon did not hide his disappointment over what he described as a troubling pattern of absenteeism among members of the House. He stressed that lawmakers were elected to represent the interests of their constituents and must take their responsibilities seriously.
“The persistent absence of members not only disrupts legislative work but also undermines efforts to address issues affecting ordinary Liberians,” Speaker Koon said. “The House cannot effectively carry out its constitutional responsibilities when lawmakers fail to attend scheduled sittings.”
The Speaker noted that repeated failures to achieve a quorum have increasingly become a challenge for the Legislature, slowing progress on critical national issues that require timely deliberation and action. According to him, the inability of lawmakers to consistently attend sessions weakens the institution’s effectiveness and hampers its ability to respond to the needs of the Liberian people.
In a stern warning, Koon revealed that lawmakers who repeatedly fail to attend sessions without providing valid reasons could face salary deductions and other administrative sanctions beginning this month. He indicated that House leadership is prepared to enforce existing rules to ensure members meet their obligations.
“We cannot continue to tolerate a situation where legislative business is repeatedly interrupted because members choose not to attend sessions,” the Speaker emphasized. “Those who fail to perform their duties must be held accountable.”
The warning comes amid growing public scrutiny of the Legislature’s performance and increasing concerns about the pace at which pressing national issues are being addressed. Many Liberians have criticized lawmakers for delays in advancing key legislation while receiving salaries and benefits funded by taxpayers.
Political commentators on social media, particularly Facebook, say Tuesday’s failed sitting has raised broader concerns about accountability and commitment within the House of Representatives. They argue that persistent absenteeism not only wastes valuable legislative time but also erodes public confidence in an institution entrusted with shaping national policy and providing oversight of government activities.
As pressure mounts on lawmakers to improve attendance and productivity, all eyes will be on whether the Speaker follows through on his threat to impose salary cuts. The move, if implemented, could signal a tougher approach toward enforcing discipline within the House and restoring confidence in the Legislature’s ability to fulfill its constitutional mandate.
Many Liberians on Facebook who reacted to the House’s failure to secure a quorum argued that the incident underscores the importance of accountability, noting that effective governance begins with elected officials fulfilling the duties for which they were elected.
