By Grace Q. Bryant
The House of Representatives has postponed the election of Liberia’s representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament until Tuesday, granting lawmakers additional time to engage in lobbying.
The decision, made during Thursday’s session, aims to promote a fair and transparent process by allowing aspirants more time to solidify their support before the final vote.
Liberia’s previous ECOWAS Parliament representatives included Moima Briggs Mensah (Bong County District 6), Taa Wongbe (Nimba County District 9), and Samuel Enders (Montserrado County District 6).
According to an insider reports, Moima Briggs Mensah is expected to retain her seat, while Augustine Chiewolo (Lofa County District 5) and Samson Q. Wiah (Sinoe County District 2) are likely to replace Wongbe and Enders.
While no official confirmation has been made, these potential changes indicate a shift in Liberia’s delegation, with active lobbying underway.
With the election now scheduled for Tuesday, candidates are intensifying efforts to secure support from colleagues.
The process is expected to be highly competitive, as Liberia’s ECOWAS representatives play a vital role in regional decision-making on economic, political, and security matters.
Following the postponement, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, highlighted the importance of electing capable representatives who can effectively advocate for Liberia’s interests at the regional level.
“We want to ensure that those we send to the ECOWAS Parliament have the full backing of their colleagues and can represent Liberia effectively. This extension allows for more engagement among lawmakers,” Fallah stated.
Liberia’s representation in the ECOWAS Parliament is significant, as members contribute to policy discussions affecting the entire West African region. The selected lawmakers will be responsible for addressing key issues, including trade, security, governance, and regional integration.
The ECOWAS Parliament, comprising representatives from all 15 member states, plays a critical role in regional affairs, and Liberia aims to maintain an influential presence within the body.
This election process takes place amid controversy surrounding the recall of Liberia’s current ECOWAS representatives.
Reports indicate that the ECOWAS Parliament may reject Liberia’s recall decision due to procedural concerns.
During the 8th-day sitting, presided over by Majority Bloc Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, the plenary ruled that Representatives Moima Briggs Mensah, Taa Wongbe, and Samuel Enders be withdrawn from the ECOWAS Parliament.
This decision followed a request from Representatives Johnson Williams and James Kolleh, who argued that the appointments had been made unilaterally by embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa without plenary approval.
They further contended that the selections lacked proper political representation and violated ECOWAS protocols.
However, Senator Edwin Snowe, Liberia’s most senior representative at the ECOWAS Parliament, strongly opposed the recall attempt.
He asserted that the ECOWAS Parliament operates independently and is not subject to Liberia’s internal legislative decisions. According to Snowe, the recall effort is unlikely to be recognized at the regional level.
He also urged the Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives to avoid using internal disputes as grounds for recalling lawmakers, emphasizing that such issues should be resolved within Liberia rather than escalated to the ECOWAS Parliament.
Senator Snowe further appealed to President Joseph Boakai, urging him to remain neutral and avoid involvement in what he described as an unconstitutional recall.
He stressed that the current ECOWAS Chairman, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lacks the authority to enforce such a recall, underscoring that Liberia’s internal parliamentary conflicts should not be imposed on the regional legislative body.