PNC, AFC Forming Separate Coalitions to Contest 2025 Elections, Risk Misreading Public Sentiment

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has announced that it will contest Guyana’s upcoming General and Regional Elections on September 1, 2025, signaling its intention to proceed without the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), and instead possibly align with “like-minded” individuals.

What a difference a year makes. In September 2024, Opposition Leader and PNCR head Aubrey Norton had stated publicly that his party preferred to contest the elections in coalition with the AFC.

AFC Leader Nigel Hughes now says his party “went above and beyond” to build a unified opposition alongside the PNCR, the dominant party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) alliance. The APNU and AFC had contested both the 2015 and 2020 elections as a coalition, winning power in 2015 and losing narrowly in 2020.

Talks between the AFC and APNU, however, ended in April without agreement.

“What I can say is that I am very, very happy with the endeavors of our negotiators at several stages,” Hughes told reporters. “And I certainly at a personal level, after that did not bear fruit, endeavored to try and reach a position in which we thought that we can offer to the country a combined opposition.”

Hughes remained optimistic:

“We are always committed to whatever is in the best interest of Guyana—that is always our first and foremost position. And I can say without hesitation that we have done our utmost best, up to the very last moment, to attempt to arrive at a position in which we can offer to Guyana the optimal choice. And we are convinced, and confident in our position at the moment, and that is where we are, I am afraid.”

Meanwhile, the APNU—under PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton—has proceeded with forming a new coalition with the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a much smaller party whose current influence is far from its former heights.

Still, Hughes has expressed confidence in the AFC’s prospects and hinted that the party will soon unveil “very exciting announcements” in the lead-up to the election.

Despite these developments, the AFC and PNCR seem to be ignoring a critical political reality: supporters of both parties have consistently expressed a desire to see a united opposition, which they believe represents the only viable challenge to the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

At the heart of the coalition breakdown lies the unresolved question of the presidential candidate. Initially, both the PNCR and AFC insisted their own leader should lead the ticket. Later, there were calls for a consensus candidate. Hughes indicated a willingness to step aside, but Norton reportedly maintained that the consensus or presidential candidate must be the PNCR leader—himself.

These divisions come at a time when recent polling points to widespread public dissatisfaction with the current political class. According to a credible poll, 62% of respondents believe Guyana needs a new national leader, while only 38% support keeping the current leadership in place.

Among the findings:

• Just 29% of respondents expressed confidence in President Irfaan Ali’s leadership.
• Only 25% believe Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo represents the interests of ordinary Guyanese.
• Among opposition-aligned respondents, 69% said they do not support Aubrey Norton continuing as leader of the APNU+AFC coalition, while just 31% said they do.

Amid this fragmented political scene, embattled businessman Azruddin Mohamed has also thrown his hat into the ring, announcing an independent candidacy and rejecting any coalition overtures.

Meanwhile, the ruling PPP continues to make strategic gains. Notably, a current Guyanese diplomat, breaking with diplomatic tradition, has publicly endorsed President Irfaan Ali for re-election.

As the opposition splinters and the PPP consolidates its position, questions loom over whether Guyana’s fragmented political opposition can overcome its leadership disputes in time to mount a serious electoral challenge.