By threatening to stir up any with a “spark of freedom remaining” (v. 27), Moroni serves notice that he has defined this conflict as a renewal of the king-men/freemen rebellion and that Pahoran is on the king-man side.
In verse 28 Moroni recognizes the problem of overthrowing one’s leader, something that has not happened in the Nephite history. He brushes aside Pahoran’s power and authority as irrelevant to the issue of legitimacy. Pahoran, though legitimately placed on the judgment seat, is no longer the rightful leader because he is no longer faithful to the principles of the Nephite religion. If he has violated them, as Moroni accuses him of doing, then he has abdicated his authority.