PNCR’s Elson Lowe not AFC’s high choice for presidential candidate

Last Updated on Friday, 21 March 2025, 22:03 by Writer

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member, Elson Lowe is not strong enough to become the combined opposition’s presidential candidate to push back against the ruling party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and its presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali in the 2025 general and regional elections, a senior AFC official said Friday.

The AFC said the opposition needs someone who could aggressively push back against the PPP. “While Lowe seems astute, it’s obvious that the coalition will need a strong and no-nonsense candidate to confront Jagdeo and Ali. If there is to be an acceptable candidate outside of Norton or Hughes, it can only be a Terrence Campbell-type person,” a senior AFC official told Demerara Waves Online News.

Mr Lowe earlier Friday declined to pointedly say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ whether he was being considered as the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity+AFC presidential candidate for the 2025 general and regional elections.

In recent months, Dr Terrence Campbell has been publicly challenging the PPPC-led administration on issues such as transparency and accountability especially in spending Guyana’s oil revenues. He is the opposition’s representative on the Natural Resource Fund’s Investment Committee.

Mr Jagdeo, of East Indian descent, has openly accused Dr Campbell of hurling less than veiled racial slurs against him, and allegedly evading taxes. Dr Campbell has denied both of those accusations.

The PNCR and AFC have until March 31, 2025 to decide whether they would jointly contest the 2025 polls widely expected in November.