Representative Yekeh Kolubah of District #10-Montserrado. Source: House of Representatives Press Bureau.
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The Liberian House of Representatives, on April 17, 2026, expelled one of its members, Yekeh Kolubah, of District #10, Montserrado County. A total of 49 out of 73 members of the House, representing a two-thirds majority, voted in favour of the motion. The decision followed a report from the committee on Rules, Order, and Administration. Yekeh Kolubah is an independent lawmaker serving a 2nd term in the House of Representatives. He supported the Unity Party (then in opposition) against Former President George Mannah Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in the 2023 elections that brought Joseph Boakai into power.
Background
Rep. Yekeh Kolubah’s expulsion is a result of a statement he made during the Liberia-Guinea border tension when he returned from Ghana in March. In an interview with Spoon TV, Yekeh lamented that the disputed land belongs to Guinea, alleging that residents of Lofa are aware of it. The lawmaker’s comment sparked public outrage, with some of his colleagues stressing that Yekeh’s statement undermines Liberia’s territorial integrity.
Following a legislative return to a special sitting on the call of President Joseph Boakai on April 9, 2026, Montserrado District#3 Sumo K. Mulbah filed a petition to the House of Representatives, craving their indulgence to investigate Yekeh Kolubah’s statement. Rep. Mulbah termed Yekeh’s statement as “reckless,” requesting the body to either suspend Yekeh for six months or expel him. The full report can be found here.
In his argument, Sumo cited Article 76 of the Liberian Constitution, stressing that advocating for the surrender of Liberian territory would be interpreted as treason under the Penal Law. The lawmaker’s complaint to the House of Representatives outlined four counts: Gross Misconduct, Violation of Oath of Office, Violation of the House’s Rules and Procedures, and Bringing the Legislature (particularly the House) into public disrepute.
The matter was forwarded to the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration to report back to Plenary in 10 days.
The Committee’s Report
To investigate the complaint, Rep. Yekeh Kolubah appeared before the committee on Rules, Order, and Administration on April 13, 2026, alongside the complainant Sumo K. Mulbah for a hearing. During the hearing, Yekeh requested that the committee grant him a five-day period to adequately inform and consult with his legal counsel in preparation for the proceedings, but the committee, in its discretion, granted him only two days.
On April 15, 2026, Rep. Kolubah appeared along with his legal team, and during the inquiry, the legal team of Kolubah requested the Committee to allow them to speak on their client’s behalf and made a submission requesting an additional five business days to provide them with the following:
Statement (audio, video, or written) attributed to their client; Official position of the Government of the Republic of Liberia as referenced in the citation; and the “celebration and dissemination” of the statement by the Guinean authorities as referenced in the complainant’s citation. Report here.
The House’s Rules governing those proceedings
The Committee rejected their request and informed Rep. Kolubah that it is the procedure of the House for members to speak for themselves and be guided by their lawyers, to ensure that their fundamental rights are protected, and to advise the client on what to say and what not to say. The Committee said the hearing was quasi-judicial in nature, and intended to satisfy the constitutional guarantees of due process; the strict application of the rules of evidence as observed in judicial forums ought not to be imposed.
However, Yekeh’s legal team insisted that their request to represent their client be granted, prompting the committee to take a 30-minute break. During their return, the committee unanimously voted to object to the defendant’s legal team’s request. At this time, Rep. Yekeh Kolubah was accorded the stage to present his case. During his presentation, his legal counsel voluntarily left the hearing, and the defendant (Yekeh) followed suit.
Committee’s Recommendations
The Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration recommended to the Plenary of the House of Representatives to expel Rep. Yekeh Kolubah for gross misconduct and consistent violation of the House’s Rules and Procedures. Furthermore, the Committee recommended that Yekeh be turned over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution based on the statement he made against Liberia during the Liberia-Guinea border crisis.
In view of the foregoing the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration unequivocally recommends the expulsion of Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah of District 10, Montserrado County for gross misconduct and consistent violation of the Houses’ Rules and Procedures based on Rule 9.2 which states “A member may be expelled from the House for cause by a resolution of a two-thirds majority of the members of the House,” and Rule 48.1 which reads “The House shall take disciplinary measures against any member who violates or fails to comply with the House ethics and procedure specified in this rule.”
The Committee recommended that following his expulsion, Yekeh Y. Kolubah should be turned over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution based on his statement made against the Republic on the border dispute between Guinea and Liberia”.
What the Law says
The Committee based its decision on the following legal backing. Article 38 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia states, “Each House shall adopt its own rules of procedures, enforce order, and with the concurrence of two-thirds of the entire membership, may expel a member for cause…. “All rules adopted by the Legislature shall conform to the requirements of due process of law laid down in this Constitution.
The Committee requested the Plenary to impose the most decisive and appropriate disciplinary measures available under its Rules and Procedures and the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia. This action, the body said, is necessary to uphold the dignity, integrity, and authority of the Legislature. This action is very proper and necessary based on the following citations of the Rules and Procedures of the House.
Rule 11: “Each member of the House of Representatives, before taking his/her seat, shall take an oath or affirmation to uphold and defend the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic of Liberia as well as to faithfully discharge the duties and functions of the office as a member of the House of Representatives.
The oath shall be taken from the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia and shall read thus: “I, (state name), do solemnly swear that I will support, uphold, protect and defend the Constitution and Laws of the Republic of Liberia and bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic and will faithfully, conscientiously and impartially discharge the duties and functions of the office of the Honorable House of Representatives, to the best of my ability.
SO HELP ME GOD.” After the oath has been duly administered, the Speaker shall order the Chief Clerk to call the roll for the official start of duty.”
Rule 42.1: “Every member shall, at any place, keep the prestige and dignity of the House and refrain from undesirable acts.”
“The actions of Hon. Kolubah violate his oath of office, particularly the portion that says “…uphold, protect and defend the Constitution and Laws of the Republic of Liberia and bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic…”, keeping the prestige and dignity of the house, constant undesirable acts, constantly bringing the house to public disrepute and other conduct unbecoming of a legislator”.
Historical Reference
In terms of precedence, the Committee cited the Senate’s past history on October 23, 1998, when the Liberian Senate passed a resolution expelling Senator Sampson Bedell Fahn, Il, from the Senate. The action took place during the leadership of the late Senate Pro Tempore, Charles W. Brumskine.
The Senate accused Senator Bedell Fahn of engaging in gross misconduct, considered by the Senate as desecrating the sanctity of the Liberian Senate, and refusing to appear before a Senate Committee after being cited. The Rules, Order, and Administration Committee termed Yekeh Kolubah’s action of walking out on the body as a gross double misconduct against its integrity and authority.
Political Parties Reactions
Political parties have reacted differently to Rep. Kolubah’s expulsion. Major opposition political parties, like the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), suspended and expelled members who signed the resolution to expel Rep. Kolubah.
CMC suspended one member, Jerry Korlubah Yogboh, from his position as Vice Chairperson for Finance and Investment and all rights associated with the party. CDC expelled seven members from the party. They are: Ivar Jones, district #2, Margibi; Julie Fatorma Wiah, district#2, Lofa; MoMo Siafa Kpoto, district#3, Lofa; Alexander Poure, district#1, RiverGee, Choloplay Isaac Wou, district#2 RiverGee, Johnson S.N Williams, district #3 RiverGee, and P. Mike Jury, district#1, Maryland.
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado, a steward of the Liberty Party, has criticised the process. He says that, even though the Constitution gave the House authority to expel members and to adopt its rules, such actions should be carried out within the confines of the law. Quoting Article 38 on his official Facebook page, the Lawmaker said that “due process” as mentioned in the law can only be defined by the Supreme Court, especially in cases where constitutional and fundamental human rights may be affected.
Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) Alexander B. Cummings, has termed Yekeh’s expulsion as a form of “hypocrisy” from the Legislature. In his statement, though the Legislature tends to make its decision on the statement made against Liberia in the Liberia-Guinea border situation, he (Cummings) believes it is a move to silence a critical voice in the Legislature.
At the same time, the ruling Unity Party, through its Chairperson, Luther Tarpeh, has distanced itself from the house’s decision to expel Yekeh. Tarpeh says the government has nothing to do with the situation in the Legislature.
Citizens’ Reactions
There have been mixed reactions from the public about the expulsion of Yekeh Kolubah. Some citizens say that, though Yekeh’s statement was inappropriate, especially at a time of tensions between the two countries, the decision taken by the house was extreme. They believed a suspension would have been a better course of action for his misconduct. Furthermore, ordinary Liberians criticised that the expulsion of the Representative will lead to a by-election in the district that will cost the government huge sums of money, which they believe could be profitable if the government uses such money to advance education, health or other social services for citizens. Reports here
While other Liberians think Yekeh’s statement was provocative and would put the country in harm’s way. They said Liberia has suffered 14 years of war in the past, and the lawmaker’s statement might have served as a recipe to destabilise the peace the country enjoys today. Reports here and here.
Civil Society’s Reaction
Reacting to Mr Anderson Miamen, head of the Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL)-a leading NGO championing the anti-corruption fight said the Legislature should have used the energy to expel Yekeh Kolubah to fight corruption and create jobs that will benefit the citizens instead. According to Miamen, he doesn’t support Yekeh’s style of leadership, but thinks there are more pressing needs of Liberians that need legislative action than expelling a lawmaker.
Conclusion
Rep. Yekeh Kolubah of District 10, Montserrado County, has been expelled by 49 members of the House of Representatives. The case has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.
