Coalition tells GECOM it cannot declare election results

After a tabulation of most of the ballot boxes show the Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) with a seemingly unassailable lead, the governing APNU+AFC has told the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that it cannot declare the results of the recount of the march 2, General and Regional Elections. he party has leveled a series of unsubstantiated allegations of fraud against the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), in its bid to convince the public that the elections were not credible. In a statement published sunday, the party said “GECOM is put on notice that it cannot use illegal and fraudulent votes to produce a valid and acceptable result. Fraud cannot produce credibility.” The Coalition’s statement is however in conflict with what has been asserted by the leader of the APNU+AFC, incumbent President David Granger. On numerous occasions, the President emphasized that he clearly understands and wants the diplomatic community to know that GECOM is an autonomous body which cannot be directed by the President. Despite strong statements by the President, the APNU+AFC has essentially instructed the Elections Commission not to declare the results of the national recount, which completed the remaining 74 ballot boxes, sunday. The party’s statement further claimed that it uncovered evidence of electoral fraud which have affected 84,000 votes. There were allegations of dead voters, as well as votes cast for those who were out of the jurisdiction on E-Day. Twentysix individuals emphatically told this publication that they were in Guyana on the day of the elections, despite contrary claims being peddled by the APNU+AFC. Oppositionnominated commissioner Sase Gunraj appeared baffled as to how the coalition arrived at their 84,000 irregularities. In fact, he rejected it while adding that he would not subscribe to such claims. (Kaieteur News)