Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), has informed Aubrey Norton, leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led APNU coalition, that any party dissatisfied with the recent election outcomes retains the right to appeal to the High Court. This statement comes in response to Norton’s request to annul the election results and halt the ongoing recount process, citing concerns about the integrity of the elections.
In her letter to Norton, Justice Singh emphasized GECOM’s commitment to conducting elections in a “free, fair, and transparent manner,” while strictly adhering to Guyanese law. She reassured that the Commission is dedicated to ensuring that the will of the electorate is accurately reflected in the final results.
“Once the recounts are completed and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) presents the final results to the Commission, any parties aggrieved by the outcome will have the right to file an election petition to the High Court, in accordance with Article 163 of the Constitution,” Singh stated.
Norton has called for a forensic audit of the electoral process or a complete annulment, followed by fresh elections. However, Singh reiterated the constitutional provisions, noting that Article 163 grants the High Court exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether the elections were lawfully conducted or if the results were affected by any lawful act or omission.
The election results, as declared in all ten electoral districts, indicate that the PPP emerged victorious, with APNU finishing third behind the newcomer WIN party. The PPP reportedly received 46,000 more votes than the combined total of the other five parties in the race.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, GECOM urges all stakeholders to respect the established legal and procedural mechanisms and to allow the recount process to conclude before pursuing further action.
Private Sector Commission Affirms Credibility of September 1 Elections
