Outgoing Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has acknowledged that A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) disappointing performance in the September 1 General and Regional Elections was largely due to the collapse of coalition efforts and the overwhelming influence of money in politics.
“The lack of a coalition affected us.” — Aubrey Norton
Coalition That Never Was
At his weekly press briefing, Norton admitted he had pushed for coalition unity ahead of the elections but was ultimately unable to bring the parties together.
“I was all for coalition. I tried to be as flexible as possible, but had to be faced with the reality—and we just ended up going separately,” Norton said.
His remarks follow continued debate over failed negotiations between APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC). AFC leader Nigel Hughes had publicly stated that the AFC was willing to concede the presidential slot and proposed a 65:35 seat-sharing formula in APNU’s favour. Despite this, the talks fell through.
Granger: Shift Focus from Personalities to Principles
Former President David Granger—who successfully led APNU into coalition with the AFC in 2015 and 2020—had warned as early as June that personality-driven politics would not forge lasting alliances.
“Negotiating parties need, first, to agree on the core principles for collaboration before clamouring for prestigious positions and political office,” Granger told Kaieteur News.
He emphasised that coalition talks must be rooted in shared values and sound policy direction, not the pursuit of office. He also warned that parties should work toward policies that support development and protect the nation from social disorder, crime, and public health threats.
“Much has been heard about personalities but little about policies,” he observed.
Granger: Online Buzz Can’t Replace Ground Work
Granger also cautioned that no amount of media messaging or social media presence could substitute for direct engagement with the electorate.
“Parties must travel, communicate continuously and convincingly with the electorate countrywide, reinforce their constituency organisation and mobilisation, and carefully identify and nominate candidates who are supported by their communities,” he said.
He added a warning for those relying too heavily on urban support.
“City-bound parties and politicians are unlikely to do well in the wider electorate.”
Big-Money Politics
Norton cited the WIN party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, as a major disruptor in the 2025 elections. He said the party’s well-funded campaign gave it a clear advantage.
“The next election you go into, you’ll need a war chest to match the money. Money is now playing a more critical role than policies or programmes.”
He admitted that APNU, despite receiving private sector support, had not adequately anticipated the scale of vote-buying, calling it “an increasingly new phenomenon” that distorted the electoral playing field.
Calls for Electoral Reform Remain
Addressing criticism that APNU failed to press hard enough for a clean voters list, Norton said legal constraints limited their actions. The High Court had ruled against removing names from the list without parliamentary approval—a move the government declined to pursue.
Norton reiterated his call for biometric voter identification to reduce fraud and build confidence in the electoral system.
Internal Review and Party Leadership
On internal party matters, Norton confirmed that a full post-election review is underway. He said the process will include an evaluation of candidates, party structures, and broader historical performance, though no completion date has been given.
When asked about criticism from former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who called for his resignation, Norton deflected.
“I read what Jordan said and the press in handling it select what they wanted… but I would not go down that road at this stage.”
Low Voter Turnout in APNU Areas
Norton suggested that low turnout in APNU strongholds could be tied to growing doubts about electoral credibility.
“Anywhere in the world, including Guyana, where people believe an election is likely to be rigged and the outcome predetermined, there is the tendency for people to sleep too.”
Team Composition Defended
He defended the makeup of APNU’s new 12-member parliamentary slate saying it reflected those who actively supported APNU ahead of the polls.
“We thought this was the best representation.”
He also addressed speculation about political commentator and academic Dr. David Hinds, confirming that, to his knowledge, Hinds is not a dual citizen.
On the departure of Amanza Walton-Desir, who left APNU to contest the election with her own party, Norton acknowledged it was a setback.
“She was a good candidate. We lost a good candidate when we lost Ms. Walton-Desir.”
Looking Ahead: Engagement Still on the Table
Despite APNU’s electoral defeat, Norton signaled that the party remains open to engaging with others in the opposition space, including the WIN party.
“We are politicians and we believe we have to engage to achieve our objectives, and we will engage as we see fit.”
As the party regroups, Norton’s comments highlight the road ahead: strengthen internal structures, modernise campaign tactics, and embrace meaningful alliances—not just for appearances, but to deliver real policy solutions and regain voter trust.
