APNU WILL FADE INTO THE TWLIGHT
It was fortunate that the Link Show ended its weekend performances before the release of APNU’s findings on its verification of the Statements of Poll for last November’s General and Regional Elections. The Link Show would surely have received stiff competition from APNU when it comes to comic entertainment.
APNU has now indicated that their verification exercise has called into question the results of the presidency. Perhaps if APNU had spent another few more months, it may well by that time declare itself as the winner of the elections.
APNU can no longer be taken seriously. It has contradicted itself consistently and exposed itself to ridicule by its handling of this verification exercise.
APNU ought to have known the results of the elections within hours of the close of polls on election night. If it went to so much trouble to ensure that it had polling agents in many of the areas where it felt the ruling party could have created mischief, it must have been able to within hours of the end of counting of the votes to have a fair idea of the overall results.
The PPP knew from its tabulations that it had failed to gain a majority. This is why it called for a recount of certain stations in two regions. The PPP had their polling agents, just like APNU, at most polling stations and thus were able to know how they did in the elections.
APNU however found itself in problems when some of its supporters, hurt by the failure to win the presidency, decided to test the political waters by staging protests. This placed the leadership of APNU in a serious dilemma because they could not be seen as distancing themselves from the actions of their supporters.
As such they too called for verification.
When the PPP however demanded a forensic audit which would have involved checking the ballots in the ballot boxes, APNU said no to this, insisting that the results had to be reconciled with the Statements of Poll.
APNU’s supporters then went and put on an exhibition of demonstrations and vigils, going so far as to protest in front of the homes of officials of GECOM. Eventually GECOM provided APNU with electronic copies of the results.
The verification began.
The public waited for the results of this verification, waiting to see whether it would confirm irregularities in the results.
Weeks passed and APNU still was not finished with this exercise which many of their supporters must have expected would have proven that the elections were rigged.
When the media began to press APNU, the grouping said that it was not happy with the electronic version and wanted access to the actual Statements of Poll. The party said this despite everyone knowing that it’s polling agents in the polling stations would have had signed copies of the Statements of Poll. It was not surprising that it did not ask for the ballot boxes themselves.
Pressed further, the party said irregularities were found. The business community must have begun to brace themselves for further protests.
Then later it said that though there were irregularities, these would not affect the overall results of the elections.
That was taken to mean that whatever discrepancies were found they would not alter the fact that the PPP won the elections.
APNU promised the disclosure of its findings by the end of March and it has kept its word.
Only thing now, the media is reporting them as saying that the irregularities call into question, the presidency.
Well if it does, it means that there were serious irregularities because it would take over 30,000 votes for the gap between the PPP and its nearest rival to be closed.
APNU has discredited itself by its handling of the whole situation. It should never have allowed itself to be led into this situation by those who had taken to the streets. It allowed the tail to lead the head and is now paying for this
Fortunately, APNU is not going to face another election in Guyana. The PNCR will now take command of the opposition and just like Burnham swore in 1968 that he would never allow the PNC to enter into any coalition again, so too will the PNC/R in the run-up to the next general elections, bid goodbye to its much touted partnership, APNU.
The PNC/R is now emphasising its importance in APNU. The writing is on the wall. APNU will disappear by the time the next election comes around. A mass party like the PNC/R cannot afford two consecutive elections without its name on the ballot. APNU has had its last electoral hurrah.
It has indicated the results of its verification even though the list of the specific irregularities and its effects on the tabulated votes has not yet been detailed.
What does it matter? The PPP underperformed because of political complacency and still won the elections. Nothing that any verification comes up with is going to change that fact.
