By Grace Q. Bryant
Political tensions in the House of Representatives (HoR) reached a boiling point on Tuesday when officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) accompanied an unidentified individual who forcibly broke into and removed a vehicle belonging to Montserrado County District 10 Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah.
The dramatic incident, which took place within the premises of the Capitol Building, has further deepened the ongoing rift between Representative Kolubah and the Majority Bloc, led by House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon.
According to reports, the vehicle was parked in a slot traditionally reserved for the Speaker. Speaker Koon, who represents Montserrado County District 11, allegedly ordered its removal to make space for his own vehicle. Under the supervision of LNP officers, an unidentified individual used a drill to forcibly open the car door, after which a police officer entered the vehicle and attempted to disengage the handbrake to facilitate its removal.
Reacting to the incident, Representative Kolubah accused Speaker Koon of orchestrating the break-in.“My car is being burst into by Richard Koon. If I go to the court and can’t get redress from the court to bring all my things that went missing from my car, I will burst Richard Koon’s car. If I na do it, my Ma da my wife.”
The incident underscores the growing hostility between Kolubah and Koon’s faction, further complicating an already tense political climate within the House of Representatives.
The majority bloc Speaker Koon’s leadership has been marred by controversy since his election on November 21, 2024. His rise to the speakership followed a prolonged leadership crisis that began on October 17, 2024, when 47 members of the 55th Legislature moved to unseat then-Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa over allegations of misconduct.
The election process was overshadowed by allegations of bribery, with Gbarpolu County Representative Luther Collins, publicly admitting that he received an initial payment of $15,000 as part of an effort to remove Koffa. He further revealed that lawmakers involved in the scheme were promised a total of $25,000 each, with reports suggesting the funds were made available by the Executive Branch to influence the outcome.
At a recent public engagement in Montserrado County, Speaker Koon openly declared himself the ”regime Speaker,” stating that Koffa’s removal was orchestrated by the government to prevent an “opposition Speaker” from leading the House. His statement has only intensified opposition from Kolubah and other lawmakers who continue to challenge his legitimacy.
As political tensions escalate, Representative Kolubah is also under scrutiny from the House Committee on Rules, Order & Administration. In a letter dated January 30, 2025, River Gee County District 3 Representative Johnson S.N. Williams, Sr. accused Kolubah of multiple violations of the House’s standing rules.
The complaint references an incident on January 28, 2025, where Kolubah allegedly disrupted a House session, insulted fellow lawmakers, and disrespected Speaker Koon’s authority. Williams also cited a separate occasion where Kolubah publicly referred to his colleagues as “Juntas” outside the chambers, an act considered a breach of the House’s code of conduct.
Williams argued that Kolubah’s behavior not only tarnishes the image of the House but also sets a negative precedent for Liberia’s youth, particularly given his influence on social media. He called for decisive measures to uphold legislative integrity and deter further misconduct.
This latest investigation follows a previous confrontation in which Kolubah was forcibly removed from a session after refusing to recognize Koon as Speaker. During that session, Kolubah insisted, “Richard Koon is not the Speaker. I only recognize Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah,” triggering a heated response from Koon’s supporters.
The House Committee on Rules, Order & Administration is expected to present its findings to the plenary within two weeks. However, sources suggest the committee, dominated by members of the Majority Bloc is likely to recommend Kolubah’s suspension, following similar disciplinary actions taken against other lawmakers who have opposed Koon’s leadership. As the power struggle within the House of Representatives intensifies, the coming weeks will be critical in determining the political landscape of Liberia’s legislature.
