Liberia’s political landscape is set for a major structural shift after the House of Representatives voted to add fourteen (14) new seats to the Legislature, expanding the body from 73 to 87 members. The decision was reached during the 16th Day Sitting of the 3rd Quarter of the 2nd Session, following extensive debate over the country’s shifting population dynamics and constitutional mandates for fair representation.
The move comes in response to a comprehensive report submitted by the Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration, Judiciary, and Good Governance & Government Reform. The report outlines a constitutionally guided framework for the reapportionment of constituencies based on findings from the 2022 National Population and Housing Census, which revealed demographic imbalances across several counties.
County Allocation of the 14 Proposed Seats
Under the Joint Committee’s recommendation, the additional seats will be distributed as follows:
Montserrado County – 4 seats
Lofa County – 2 seats
Nimba County – 2 seats
Bong County – 2 seats
Grand Bassa County – 1 seat
Margibi County – 1 seat
Grand Cape Mount County – 1 seat
Grand Gedeh County – 1 seat
The presentation of the report triggered vigorous debate on the House floor, with lawmakers arguing over the potential benefits and drawbacks of expanding the Legislature. Some representatives emphasized the need to protect the principle of proportional representation, while others questioned the fiscal implications of increasing the size of an already financially constrained government.
Hon. Foday Fahnbulleh moved a motion to endorse the Joint Committee’s report, while also calling for a specialized committee to work with the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS). The committee, according to Fahnbulleh, should ensure that the reapportionment process is technically sound, transparent, and implemented in a manner that aligns with both constitutional requirements and population realities.
Pending Senate Decision
While the House has approved the expansion, the measure is not yet final. It now requires concurrence from the Liberian Senate. Should the Senate give its approval, the National Elections Commission will be mandated to redraw constituency boundaries ahead of the 2029 General and Presidential Elections.
The NEC would then undertake one of its most significant redistricting responsibilities in recent decades, a process expected to influence political alignments, voting patterns, and the overall balance of power.
Mixed Reactions Emerge
The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters argue that adding seats is critical to ensuring fair representation in rapidly growing counties, especially Montserrado, which continues to experience concentrated urban migration. They say the expansion will help correct long-standing disparities and bring lawmakers closer to their constituents.
Critics, however, warn that increasing the size of the Legislature could impose additional financial burdens on the national budget. Some civil society actors have also questioned whether adequate public consultation was conducted before the vote, stressing that any major constitutional or structural adjustment must reflect broad national consensus, not just legislative action.
As the proposal moves to the Senate, the debate over representation, accountability, and cost will likely intensify, setting the stage for one of Liberia’s most significant governance decisions ahead of the 2029 elections.
