Last Updated on Saturday, 6 September 2025, 21:25 by Writer
Presidential candidate for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton on Saturday maintained that the September 1 general and regional elections were not free and fair, but vowed that his political organisation would use its avenue to fight for democracy.
“By contesting the Election, our Party has retained occupancy of political space that provides the opportunity to contest against the dictatorial tendencies of the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party Civic) and advance the cause of social and economic justice, free and fair elections and a democratic culture in Guyana,” he said in an address to the nation on social media.
He said APNU, as a major political party, would maintain and utilise its political space for the ongoing mobilization of Guyanese and all relevant forces in order to attain the kind of society in which the mores and the culture of democracy are firmly embedded.
While Mr Norton, who is also the PNCR leader, stayed clear of conceding defeat, he acknowledged that as a result of the outcome of Monday’s polls, it was the first time that his political party was neither in government nor the main opposition. “As a consequence of September 1, 2025 elections, which were not free and fair, our Party has found itself in virgin territory of not being the governing Party or the main opposition party,” he said.
He sought to assure his supporters that APNU would “never abandon or desert you” but use its “wealth of experience in weathering the political storm” and would emerge stronger and better.
He recalled that in 1961, the PNC was also “knocked down” although it had won 41.1% of the electorate. Yet, he said, the PNC picked itself up, and through the committed support of its members and with hard work and dedication, it succeeded in achieving government approximately three years later in 1964. He appealed to all APNU supporters to “watch with us at this critical hour.” “We are like the oak tree. We will re-emerge better and stronger,” he said.
The PNCR Leader and AFC Chairman did not provide further details to support his contention that the September 1 polls were not free and fair. He also did not discuss his or the PNCR/APNU’s political future going into parliament.
But he maintained that the voters list was bloated and there was no biometric system, deficiencies that undermined any basis for the creation of a framework for free, fair and transparent elections. “The number of irregularities which have been discovered and documented gives legitimacy to the position that the elections were not free and fair. These elections did not reflect the will of the people of Guyana,” he said.
Mr Norton said the clear purpose of the APNU Coalition was to contest the elections, and if it were victorious, amongst other things was to change the electoral system and the other procedures to ensure free and fair elections.
The Carter Center, Commonwealth and European Union election observer missions said they found no evidence that the size of the list was exploited for multiple voting or voter impersonation.
Based on earlier district declarations prior to recounts in parts of districts Four and Five, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) won 242,498 votes compared to closest rivals We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) with 109,066 votes and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with 77,928.
The Forward Guyana Movement won 4, 226 votes, Alliance For Change, 3,610 and Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity, 969.
The final declaration is expected to be issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) late on Saturday night.
