Silenced by Defeat: Opposition cancels press briefings amid post-election turmoil

Sep 20, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – Amid a flurry of high-profile resignations and internal struggle, the Alliance for Change and the People’s National Congress Reform/ A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/ APNU) on Friday canceled their weekly media briefings as they continue to grapple with their crushing defeat at the recent general and regional elections.

While the media awaited links to the different zoom meetings, and invites to attend in person the PNCR/APNU in an advisory said, “Good morning. The PNCR/APNU will not be holding its weekly press conference today. Thank you again for your time and attention.”

In a similar fashion in an advisory headlined, “AFC Press conference postponed,” the party said, “Today’s Alliance for Change press conference has been postponed until after the meeting of its National Executive Committee. For your information and guidance with kind regards.”

Once the main opposition party and presumed to be the only political unit to rival the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), the PNCR/APNU performed extremely poor at the recent general and regional elections, attaining a mere 77,973 votes from the total Official List of Electors (OLE) which was declared to stand at 757690 by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This is a significant drop from the 217,920 the party secured at the 2020 elections.

Notably, subsequent to the 2020 elections APNU had secured 31 seats with the joinder parties securing one and the PPPC securing 33. This cycle however, newcomer WIN emerged as the main opposition party after securing 16 seats, four more than APNU’s 12. Additionally, APNU’s strong holds Regions Seven and Ten were also won by WIN.

To add salt to the wound, party stalwart Mervyn Williams earlier this week resigned with immediate effect from the party during a live stream on the Nation Watch show, with parliamentary lead, Dr. Terrence Campbell as guest.

Williams served as Member of Parliament for the PNC in the 9^th Parliament and also eight months in the 11^th Parliament following the resignation of several dual citizenship MPs of the then APNU+AFC coalition. He served in the 12^th Parliament between 2020 and 2025, however, he was selected to returned as an MP when the coalition lost the 2025 elections and many felt that he was overlooked for others who did not have his skills and political experience.

In his address, Williams stated, “I’ve had a good run and, with a heavy heart, I announce my resignation from the Central Executive Committee of the People’s National Congress Reform. I extend sincere gratitude to the delegates of the last Biennial Congress who voted overwhelmingly for me. Of the 15 people elected to serve on that committee, I thank my colleagues at the level of the executive committee and the leader himself for the opportunity to serve, particularly here on Nation Watch, where I believe I was able to make a small contribution to my party and to the efforts that we have collectively been making over the years.”

A few days later Shurwayne Holder tendered his resignation as the party’s chairman but remains a member of the party. Holder, a former member of parliament officially stepped down from his position on Monday. In an email addressed to PNCR leader Aubrey Norton, Holder wrote, “I hereby tender my resignation as chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform with immediate effect. I would like to thank you as party leader, the Central Executive Committee, and the membership of the party for the confidence reposed in me over the years. I wish you and the party well in your efforts to rebuild and revitalise.”

When contacted by Kaieteur News for comment, Holder declined to provide details about his reasons for resigning. He stated only that he has no political plans at the moment and intends to focus on his family and personal development.

In a move that sent shockwaves across the party Attorney Nigel Hughes tendered his resignation as leader of the AFC. General Secretary of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman said Wednesday that it is common for leaders of political parties “to fall on their sword” in cases where there are devastating defeats.

The AFC contested the elections and scraped a mere 3,610 votes, upsetting any chances of securing a single seat in the national assembly.

With the crushing loss at the polls, Trotman said the move by Hughes “is the honourable approach that is observed worldwide. However, it is the party’s leadership and members to accept or reject that offer.”

He said however, that the resignation is somewhat surprising, since there was no indication that the party leader was contemplating resigning. “Recently as Saturday last, the executive met and the meeting was chaired by Mr. Hughes. There was no hint that he was considering resigning, and no indication from within the executive that anyone wanted him to resign,” he said.

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• AFC, APNU, cancels press briefings, PNCR

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