APNU’s 2025 election campaign spending far lower than 2020

Last Updated on Monday, 22 September 2025, 15:08 by Writer

Still reeling from a devastating election defeat at the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) performance was partly due to low election campaign spending of about GY$300 million, according to PNCR executive member Ganesh Mahipaul.

Mr Mahipaul gave the figure on his party’s social media talk-show programme, ‘Nation Watch’ that was broadcast on Sunday. “You had a situation of money playing a significant role in all that happened also. You know, people may not believe but in these elections, we as a party, we spent close to or thereabout $300 million for the campaign in total,” he said.

He said that amount was far from the billions of Guyana dollars that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) spent. “There was that difference also in resource spending and you know having the resource to do the necessaries,” he said.

Demerara Waves Online News was told that APNU+Alliance For Change’s election campaign in 2020 cost about GY$2 billion.

On the other hand, the PPPC is believed to have spent about GY$5 billion in the 2025 election campaign including clothing, promotional material, advertising and promotions, artistes, and land and air transportation. This excludes the use of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) aircraft to shuttle President Irfaan Ali to government events at which attendees were explicitly called upon to support the re-election of the PPPC. Virtually all of the foreign election observer missions noted that the PPPC’s use of state resources put their opponents at a disadvantage.

WIN’s campaign was also evidently well-funded, judging from the paraphernalia and the number of meetings held across Guyana.

Mr Winston Jordan, former finance minister in the APNU+AFC administration, recently said the PNCR needs a lot of money and should find ways of using its real estate and form companies to bid for contracts to earn revenue, instead of relying on activities such as fish-fry and corn house to raise funds.

The PNCR and PPPC have over the years resisted the enactment of campaign financing legislation, fearing that there would be a breach of confidentiality about who are the donors.

Mr Mahipaul also attributed APNU’s defeat to party disunity and open disagreement on social media among members and supporters about the election of Mr Aubrey Norton as leader and chairman. “You had members who, unfortunately, were not satisfied by the membership’s choice and if you move down that road of not accepting the membership’s choice, then you are not really embracing a democracy,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PNCR executive member stopped short of openly condemning those who are calling for Mr Norton to resign as PNCR leader because he led APNU to its worst defeat in its 70-year history.

Mr Mahipaul said between now and the next PNCR Congress, which includes its internal elections, should be regarded as a transition period. “That’s why Aubrey Norton needs to be there to steer the ship. A captain doesn’t just jump off his ship. That will prove wrong of him,” he said. Mr Mahipaul indicated that Mr Norton could not leave now because several administrative, financial and logistical arrangements have to be made for Congress scheduled for July, 2026.

He appealed to PNCR supporters to allow the party’s systems and structures to work and eventually return to the highest point to dominate with its policies, programmes and projects.

APNU candidate, Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels advised colleague supporters to be disciplined and keep internal concerns within the party. If not, he said those persons should feel free to leave and avoid criticising the party publicly. Mr Daniels said Mr Norton should be commended for not going into parliament and instead making way for “fresh blood”.

Though Mr Norton has said the PNCR would determine his future as leader, Mr Daniels said party supporters must continue to rally around him. “Our leader has been facing tremendous internal and external struggles and I commend him for standing up to those struggles and keep pushing forward with his mandate with honour and with dignity,” he said.

Another APNU candidate, Attorney-at-Law Eden Corbin cautioned party supporters against merely seeing achievements as being a parliamentarian or a government minister. He said party members could be politically successful outside the National Assembly. He said there are opportunities within the party’s structures. “Parties have various groups and various groups that need leadership,” he said.

PNCR Chairman Shurwayne Holder and long-serving member Mervyn Williams recently resigned from the PNCR after the elections. Prior to the polls, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Amanza Walton-Desir, Daniel Seeram and Samuel Sandy were among several PNCR members who resigned before the polls and joined the PPP, WIN, and FGM.

Recently, PNCR Treasurer Elson Lowe and PNCR member and former city mayor Ubraj Naraine also criticised the PNCR, triggering concerns by Mr Mahipaul who questioned their choosing to appear on a pro-PPP, anti-PNCR social media programme and so exposed their weakness. “The question has to be asked: Are you really for the development, strengthening and upbringing of a new rebranded, restructured, rebuilding process of the PNCR or are you one of the persons who believe you could destroy the party?” he said.