Debate Intensifies Over Justification for Additional Legislative Seats Amid Economic Hardship

By: Ben TC Brooks | River Gee Correspondent

River Gee County |Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 | A prominent Liberian corporate lawyer, Cllr. Kunkunyon Teh of River Gee County has strongly criticized the Legislature’s decision to create additional seats, arguing that the lawmakers have offered no credible justification for such an expansion at this time.

Cllr. Teh noted that instead of increasing the number of representatives, the House should embark on a comprehensive harmonization process, one that aligns legislative seats with Liberia’s current population patterns, economic realities, and governance needs.

He stressed that while the Constitution requires the establishment of population thresholds and the redrawing of constituency boundaries after each national census, it does not mandate an expansion of the Legislature.

According to him, the same constitutional framework grants lawmakers equal authority to reduce the number of seats if demographic data or national conditions warrant such adjustments.

Given the country’s economic challenges and rising public demands, Cllr. Teh argued that downsizing, or at least restructuring, the Legislature would be the more responsible course of action.

He added that proposals to expand the body appear politically motivated and more likely to advance narrow interests than to promote the welfare of the broader population.

His stance has reignited a central public debate as to why do counties such as Montserrado and others require additional seats, and what form of representation is genuinely necessary, he asked?

Cllr. Teh insists that before any expansion is considered, lawmakers must first commit to fully harmonizing the Legislature to ensure fairness, efficiency, and constitutional compliance.

Meanwhile, during Tuesday’s session, the House Committees on Elections, Inauguration, and Judiciary confirmed the creation of 14 new electoral districts across 11 of Liberia’s 15 counties, based on the findings of the 2022 National Census.

The decision increases the size of the House of Representatives from 73 to 87 seats—an expansion supporters say reflects population growth and bolsters proportional representation.

Under the new arrangement, Montserrado County will receive four additional seats, followed by Nimba and Bong Counties with two seats each. While Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Margibi, Grand Kru, Maryland, and Grand Cape Mount Counties will each gain one new seat. River Gee, Sinoe, Gbarpolu, and River Cess Counties will not receive additional representation.

With these changes, Liberia’s political landscape is poised for a significant realignment as debates over constitutional authority, representation, and national priorities continue to intensify.