Latest update February 24th, 2025 6:16 AM
NIP calls for official election declaration
– in the interest of peace, order and good governance
The National Independent Party, (NIP) has joined calls demanding the final declaration of the results
Leader of the NIP, Attorney-at-Law Saphier Husain Subeda
of the Regional and General elections to be made in accordance with Article (65) of the Constitution in the interest of Guyana for peace, order and good governance.
Leader of the NIP, Attorney-at-Law Saphier Husain Subeda, in a release yesterday condemned the acts by officials of the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) to participate in any recount of votes thus, delaying the process of declaring a winner of the election.
Citing the case of Petrie versus Attorney General (1968) and Esther Perreira versus the Chief Elections Officer, (1998), Subeda said that “whether there being either an act or omission which affects the results of an election” is a matter for an election petition, and cannot hold up the governance of the country.
The Attorney detailed that according to Section 88, “a duly appointed candidate, or counting agent is present when the counting of the votes is completed, may request the Returning Officer to recount…Returning Officer may refuse the said request if in his opinion it is unreasonable”.
According to Subeda, reasonable request must show the likelihood of success to such an extent that it may affect the General results of the elections, but the requests must also be considered as to the interest of the state, since provision is made in the constitution for Elections Petition to settle electoral disputes.
The NIP Leader says that based on the aforementioned circumstances, the Guyana Elections Commission in accordance with Section (99) of the Representation of the Peoples Act Cap 1:03 should publically declare the result and cause same to published in the Official Gazette as soon as possible and not later than(15) fifteen days thereafter.
Given that the preliminary results have already been declared, the NIP noted that the Chief Election Officer must act in accordance with Article 177 (1) of the Constitution and tender the results of the Election/and state clearly the name of the person designated as Presidential Candidate in favor of whom more votes are cast than any other list.
The Party further demands that the Chairman of the Elections Commission acts pursuant to the Article 177 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana upon said tendering of the results and advice of the Chief Elections Officer to declare the results forthwith, and state the person elected as President of the Republic of Guyana in the General and Regional Elections held on May, 11th 2015 and have said person sworn in as President by the Honourable Chancellor of the Judiciary.
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