As Some Lawmakers Have Already Begun Expressing Opposition To The Plan
PHOTO: Members of the House of Representatives in special plenary session today
By K. Ericson Sayee, Contributing Writer
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – April 22, 2026–Plenary of the Liberian House of Representatives has set this Thursday, April 23, 2026 to go into debate on a controversial proposition to create 16 additional legislative seats for counties that meet the post-census threshold.
That was outlined in a Specialized Committee on Elections and Inauguration report on new seat formulation.
If the proposed 16 new seats are endorsed by members of the House, concurred by the Senate, and approved by the President, the country’s legislative seats, particularly in the House of Representatives, will rise from 73 to 89 seats.
Rep. Romeo Quioh
Informing the House on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the special sitting of the House of Representatives, the Specialized Committee on Elections and Inauguration, headed by Rep. Thomas Romeo Quioh of District #1 Sinoe County stated that in the proposed framework, counties below 130 thousand will have no seat, while counties that have above 130 thousand in population will have additional legislative seats.
He further elucidated that from 130 to 350 thousand will have one additional seat, while from 350 to 750 thousand will have two additional seats, adding that from 750 thousand and above will definitely have three new seats, disclosing the proposed threshold which will affect the awarding of the new seats in the House.
According to him, no county will have any reduction in seats, especially counties that fall below the threshold which determines Electoral District.
He noted that the Liberian Constitution says each constituency should have 20 thousand and above, but rather counties that experienced an increment in population will benefit new seats, with the threshold proposed by the committee.
Counties that are expected to benefit additional seats based on their population are Montserrado County receiving additional three seats, totaling the Districts to 20 if endorse by members of the House and approved by the Senate and the President.
Nimba County stands a chance to receive two seats which will increase its total seats to 11, Bong County will also benefit two new seats to make its nine seats, Lofa will have two new seats as well to increase its seats to 7 seats, and Margibi County will have one additional seat, totaling her seats to six.
In addition, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, Grand Cape Mount, Maryland, Sinoe, and Bomi Counties will have one additional seat each, which will carry their legislative seats to four seats each.
But Rivercess, Grand Kru, Gbarpolu, and River Gee Counties will remain with their current seats as they fall below the threshold of the Committee.
The Committee relies its report on Article 80 (d) which grants the legislature the authority to set the population threshold for constituencies, following national census results, aiming for roughly equal representation.
Hon.Quioh asserted that heavily populated counties, including Montserrado, Nimba, Bong and Lofa, will see the most significant increases, reflecting updated population figures.
This report sparked a significant debate among lawmakers, Hon. Anthony F. Williams District #2 Representative, Maryland County, made the motion that the report be received and accepted, setting aside Thursday, April 23, 2026 to have the matter debated on the legislative floor.
Providing his unreadiness to vote, Rep. Ernest Manseah of District # 4, Nimba County appealed to Hon. William that each lawmaker should have a significant glimpse of the report, calling on plenary to mandate the committee to share copies with lawmakers to have an in-depth insight into the proposed document for informed deliberations.
Williams concurred with the appeal of Rep. Manseah, leading to plenary’s decision to have the matter debated on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with copies to be provided to each lawmaker for an insightful understanding.
The proposed creation of additional 16 seats in the House of Representatives has ignited significant debate among Liberians, as some Liberians are condemning the move for the creation of new legislative seats with lack of job creations for young people.
As the House debate begins at the Capitol tomorrow, Thursday, Liberians are watching their Representatives to see where the discussion will lean. Already, some lawmakers started started opposing to the creation of new seats on grounds that the country is burdened economically, and that there are other significant pressing matters to look at than adding of additional legislative seats.