Nigel Hughes has stepped down as Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), less than a month after the party’s crushing defeat in Guyana’s September 1 General and Regional Elections, senior party sources confirmed.
Hughes, who was elected leader in June 2024, has offered no public comment on his decision, directing all inquiries to the AFC’s General Secretary, Raphael Trotman. However, in a letter to party executives—reported by Demerara Waves—he accepted full responsibility for the dismal showing at the polls.
“Unfortunately, the results were beyond disappointing, the responsibility for which rests solely on my shoulder,” Hughes wrote.
The AFC secured just 3,610 votes nationwide across all 10 electoral districts, a dramatic collapse compared to its early electoral performances.
At its debut in 2006, the party won five seats with 28,366 votes, followed by seven seats with 35,333 votes in 2011.
Although Hughes’ resignation letter was undated, insiders revealed that it has already been received, with efforts underway to persuade him to remain at the helm until a new leader can be chosen.
In his missive, Hughes described his exit as an “immediate resignation,” but also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve. “I believe the party has a great role to play in the development of this great country of ours, and I wish the Chair and the executive my best wishes and support on its forward trajectory,” he added.
Hughes’ departure comes as opposition forces grapple with historic setbacks. Pressure is simultaneously mounting on People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader and presidential candidate for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton, to step aside after the partnership secured just 77,000 votes in the elections—the worst result in its 67-year history.
Norton has so far resisted calls to resign, even as his party’s chairman, Sherwayne Holder, recently tendered his resignation.
