PPP not worried FGM’s legal challenge could stall elections – Pres. Ali

Aug 23, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – President Irfaan Ali has said that the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is not worried the general and regional elections could be delayed as a result of legal proceeding being filed by Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The party is challenging the elections body over its omission from the national ballot in three regions.  The case is slated to come up before Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh on Monday.

Speaking with reporters at the joint services polling station at Camp Ayangana on Friday, President Ali essentially shrugged off the notion that the lawsuit could possibly stall the September 1 polls.

“This is not a concern for the PPP. I think that they have sought recourse on a matter that they believe they should. They have gone to the courts and the courts will deal with that. Our party is contesting in all of the regions and the geographic seats and we are contesting in all of the regions.”

President Ali continued “I am not concerned that it would stall the elections. I think that some may have the belief or they may have the desire for that and that may be the root or genesis of what they are attempting.  However, I don’t have any concerns of the stalling of the elections. I think our courts are meant to deal with these issues.”

“We are just concentrating now on these polls. I know the joint services are well prepared. They have given me a full brief of their preparedness to ensure that we have peaceful elections and to ensure that the elections are conducted and people conduct themselves within the confines of the law.”

In the same vein, Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Aneal Giddings said GECOM has not been served any documents regarding the court case.

“I don’t want to comment on that because, what I can tell you, is that I have read in the media of a purported filing. I say purported because as of this point and time, I don’t believe we have been served with regards to this matter,” Giddings said as he assured that the commission remains focused on ensuring transparency and efficiency in the ongoing electoral process, despite the legal challenge.

Meanwhile, FMG’s presidential candidate Amanza Walton Desir told the media on Friday that the case is set to come up in court on Monday.

Walton Desir filed legal proceedings against the commission after discovering that the party was omitted from the national ballot in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine.

According to Walton-Desir, the party met all requirements and was duly approved to contest the national elections. While the party is not contesting these regions at the geographical level, it was approved to appear on the national list across all 10 electoral regions.

In response, FGM has petitioned the high court, seeking an immediate halt to the electoral process until the party’s candidates are properly included in the national ballots for the affected regions.

Walton-Desir also revealed that another new party the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), led by Simona Broomes, has similarly been omitted from the national ballots in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

As such, the legal motion, filed by Dr. Vivan Williams of VMW Law on behalf of FGM, seeks inter alia a declaration that any elections held without full party inclusion are null and void; an order restraining GECOM from excluding any duly qualified party from national ballots; a directive requiring GECOM to immediately include the FGM national list in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine; an assurance that voters in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, and Nine are not restricted in their electoral participation, an order restraining GECOM whether by itself, its officer, servants or agents from proceeding with the conduct of the upcoming regional a general election unless or until the FGM list of candidates is included in all the ballots in all 10 electoral regions, in accordance with the constitution and ROPA.

FGM has argued that the omissions not only disenfranchise voters in those regions, but also impact the party’s ability to secure votes and seats in the national assembly. Reading from a prepared statement, Walton-Desir stated that the court application seeks constitutional relief under Part 56 of the Civil Procedure Rules, claiming that GECOM’s actions violate Articles 59, 149, and 160 of the constitution, as well as provisions of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA).

The affidavit outlines four key arguments in relation to the omission of approved parties. Walton-Desir related that one of the party’s FGM national candidates in Region Nine, and registered voter, Krystal Hadassah Fisher, is now unable to vote for her own party.

“The plaintiff is arguing that GECOM’s ballot design is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and silences the voices of indigenous and rural communities,” she said.

Walton-Desir sighted GECOM inconsistencies with the requirements stating, “What is the use of providing a minimum standard if you are going to then retract that and tell people you have to abide by the maximum? What is the use of saying to the electorate, that in order to qualify to participate in the general elections, you must meet the threshold of being able to compete in six districts, and then you exclude them from the general elections?”

She further added, “All of these matters are matters that we want clarified, because our giant movement is not intent to proceed just being dragged along. We want clarity, we want the courts to pronounce, and we want GECOM to get its act together.”

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• Amanza Walton-Desir, FGM Lawsuit, General Elections, national ballots, President Ali

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