The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has issued a stern announcement denouncing what it describes as a troubling pattern of electoral manipulation, government intimidation, and administrative sabotage ahead of the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
Speaking during a press conference yesterday, Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul, sought to “clarify a few instances of misunderstanding, misreporting, and pure mischief” that it claims have distorted the coalition’s position in recent days.
“We have not dropped or minimised our concerns,” the coalition declared, reaffirming its focus on what it sees as serious threats to the credibility of the upcoming vote. These include a bloated voters list, the registration of ineligible persons, alleged threats by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) against public servants, and the misuse of state resources for partisan campaigning.
“These issues remain front and centre of our concerns. We continue to work through our GECOM commissioners for [ret’d Justice] Claudette Singh and the PPP to come to their senses.”
The party warned that democracy is being quietly undermined, even as the public is distracted by political noise and sensationalist headlines.
Unilateral Change to Election Forms Sparks Outrage
At the heart of APNU’s latest protest is a controversial decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to abruptly revise Form 2, a critical document required for nominating candidates in the General and Regional Elections.
The change, announced just days ago, affects the Regional List, the Geographical List, and the Top-Up List—each requiring hundreds of signatures from voters across Guyana’s far-flung regions. APNU has accused GECOM of acting irresponsibly by altering the form after parties had already completed the process using the previously published version.
“We have to go and redo the very work that we did just a couple of weeks ago.”
While the coalition acknowledged that improving form integrity is “understandable,” it condemned the timing as deeply disruptive. APNU said it had already completed its signature collection in accordance with the original Form 2, only to now be forced to repeat the entire effort.
“This decision… will now require political parties to expend additional resources to go and redo work that was already done.”
Even more troubling, APNU suggested the decision may be politically motivated—a move to assist other parties unable to meet requirements in time, while the PPP allegedly enjoys a head start through state-funded outreach.
“When we see Priya Manickchand in Region #9, or we see Susan Rodrigues in Region #8, or Colin Croal in Region #1… they are traveling on state resources… and are also engaged in the same exercise.”
A Pattern of Election Offenses?
The coalition did not mince words in revisiting past election controversies involving the PPP. Citing the 2018 Local Government Elections, APNU recalled multiple incidents where families publicly denied ever signing nomination forms.
“We remember… a family had to come out publicly on social media to say that they never gave consent or their signatures.”
In another case, the PPP had to withdraw from Constituency #9 in Wakenaam due to fraudulent signatures. Most shockingly, in 2023, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was forced to apologize after a dead person’s name appeared on a nomination form.
“These are not isolated incidents,” the APNU insisted. “They form part of a culture of abuse that must be called out.”
A Nation on the Edge
Amidst calls for an electoral accord between APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC), the coalition confirmed that negotiations remain open and ongoing.
“We have not closed the doors… We are heartened by the responses thus far and will be making some announcements shortly.”
Despite mounting frustrations with GECOM and what the coalition sees as systemic bias, the APNU made one thing clear: they will not back down.
“That will not short-change the APNU Coalition. We will be going out again, and we will be getting our signatures as we have gotten them before.”
The statement closed with a defiant pledge to contest and conquer.
“We will be ready for these elections to meet the timelines, and we will defeat the People’s Progressive Party come September 1st, 2025.”
The 2025 Elections may be one of Guyana’s consequential elections in recent memory. While the PPP continues to campaign confidently, APNU warns of a deeper crisis, a crisis where fair play is sacrificed for power, and where democracy is not just at stake, but already under siege.
