The High Court has dismissed an election petition filed by the Forward Movement Guyana after the matter was found to be riddled with procedural deficiencies, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, confirmed on Tuesday.
The petition, filed by Randolph Critchlow on behalf of the Forward Movement Guyana through Attorney-at-Law Vivian Williams, sought to invalidate the September 1, 2025 elections in several regions. In dismissing the matter on April 14, 2026, Chief Justice Navendra Singh awarded $350,000 in costs each to the Guyana Elections Commission, the Chief Elections Officer, and the Attorney General.
The AG had applied to have the petition dismissed, citing multiple procedural breaches under the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act. Among the deficiencies identified were the failure to obtain leave of the court, improper format, naming of incorrect parties, insufficient filing copies, and failure to serve relevant stakeholders, including the Speaker of the National Assembly.
“The entire petition was defective and in breach of the relevant rules and laws regarding election petitions,” Nandlall stated during his weekly Facebook podcast “Issues in the News.”
The AG explained that election petitions in Guyana are governed by a specialised statutory framework distinct from ordinary court proceedings, with strict procedures, timelines, and requirements that must be followed precisely. He noted that any failure to comply with prescribed procedures is considered fatal to a petition, rendering it invalid and subject to dismissal regardless of the substantive claims raised.
The ruling follows an earlier legal challenge brought by Krystal Fisher, which was dismissed by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal and is currently awaiting a hearing at the Caribbean Court of Justice.
