The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has condemned the dissemination of a fake Statement of Poll (SOP) attributed to the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party, led by U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed. GECOM described the incident as a deliberate attempt to mislead voters and falsely portray a victory for the party.
During a press conference on Monday night, GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward read a statement from Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud, highlighting that the fabricated SOP surfaced just one minute after polls closed at 6:00 p.m. The false document appeared on the “Team Mohamed” Facebook page, owned and managed by Azruddin, within five minutes of the polling closure.
“GECOM rejects the publication of fake Statements of Poll. It is impossible for the counting of ballots at any polling station to have commenced at that time,” Persaud stated. He emphasized that this act is intended to create a misleading impression of electoral success for the party associated with the Facebook page.
Persaud reiterated that only GECOM is authorized to declare election results and urged the public to rely solely on the official GECOM website and announcements from Returning Officers and Supernumerary Returning Officers in their respective districts.
He announced that the publication of fake results would be referred to the Guyana Police Force for investigation.
Ward addressed related inquiries, reminding political parties and individuals to refrain from using SOPs for unofficial declarations. She warned that the spread of false or premature information undermines electoral transparency and may confuse voters.
Additionally, Ward noted concerns about images of ballots circulating online, including one allegedly posted by a former national cyclist. She clarified that GECOM does not have the authority to investigate such matters, stating, “Investigating the origin of such photographs lies in the hands of the police.”
Ward confirmed that signs prohibiting phone use in voting compartments were displayed at polling stations, with designated areas for voters to leave their devices. She expressed satisfaction at the limited incidents of non-compliance.
Despite these challenges, GECOM reaffirmed that the electoral process was conducted in accordance with the law and reiterated that it remains the sole source of verified election results.
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