APNU urges cooperation after bitter RDC fallout

Oct 13, 2025 News

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…says WIN’s arrogance cost them

(Kaieteur News) – In light of the fallout from the recent Regional Democratic Council (RDC) elections, which saw intense clashes among opposition parties such as A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), APNU’s lead Parliamentarian, Terrence Campbell, has called for unity and collaboration as the country prepares for the next parliamentary session.

Campbell urged all political parties not to let the discord from the RDC elections hinder cooperation in the National Assembly. Speaking with Kaieteur News on Sunday, he said the failure of the coalition at the regional level should not affect the ability of opposition parties to work together in making decisions for the nation.

“I believe that all parties should learn from the failure to arrive at a compromise in relation to the elections of regional chairmen and vice-chairmen. Our entry into Parliament is an opportunity to reset the relationship so that compromise, cooperation, and collaboration prevail,” Campbell stated.

He emphasised that there are many national issues that require open discussion and cooperation among all political sides. “There are a number of issues that require discussion among our party and the other opposition parties for decisions to be made. A spirit of compromise should guide those discussions so that we do not return to the discord that now exists,” he added.

Campbell noted that while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) gained control of eight out of ten regions, the APNU remains committed to representing those regions’ residents in the National Assembly. “Our councillors will vigorously represent the interests of the residents of those regions, both within the councils and outside of the formal walls of the regional bodies,” he affirmed.

Additionally, with the allegation of the APNU siding with the PPP to rule against the WIN party, Campbell clarified that APNU did not collaborate with the PPP during the RDC elections. “The APNU never sided with the PPP in these elections. We entered discussions with all parties, but a dangerous narrative was spread that APNU was cooperating with the PPP to pressure us into taking positions against our own interest. The APNU acted in the best interest of the coalition and its supporters,” Campbell stated.

In a separate Facebook post on Saturday, Campbell responded directly to WIN’s allegations of betrayal by APNU. “You have to be careful what you name your children. When you give your children a name like win, then all they focus on is winning. They ignore the other children in their class, children like cooperation, collaboration and coalition, and this often leads to disastrous results, as we saw yesterday,” he said.

Campbell added, “It is rich for anyone to come and say that in the absence of an agreement, the APNU must not push its candidates to the highest offices in the region. That is what we did, and that is what we have a right to do, and that’s what our supporters expect us to do in the absence of an agreement. Now our candidate wasn’t successful in Region Four, but our candidate in Region 10 did a lot better. But here is what WIN is not telling you, their own candidate in Region 10 was a deeply unpopular and arrogant candidate, unpopular even amongst WIN counsellors, and this is why the other parties decided to support us, that candidate had gone in the newspapers and claim that they had their support. They had it in the bag just before. So WIN has only its own self to blame. Now I say to WIN when you come to Parliament, don’t come again trying to grab everything to WIN everything come. When you come there, you’ll meet collaboration, cooperation and coalition. Work with them.”

Meanwhile, APNU member and soon-to-be parliamentarian Dr. Dexter Todd, on Sunday, echoed Campbell’s call for unity, urging all opposition parties to work together for the good of the country. “Election 2025 is over; we now have a Government and Opposition. I therefore call on all opposition parties to comprehend your role well and to stop the public fights for it will serve you no good. The WIN party share with APNU the same support base so don’t forget that,” he stated.

Dr. Todd emphasised APNU’s continued commitment to serving the people, expressing his willingness to collaborate with other parties that share similar values. “I am proud to be a part of the team that will work to restore and strengthen this party. I believe in the philosophy of the party, and any other party that share in the same ideological beliefs I will endorse cooperation. In cooperation, political ideology and identity must never be lost. So to promulgate that PNC and PPPC are allies because of a RDC election is just playing childish politics,” he said.

He added, “The APNU and PNC cannot be killed, and the party will never die. The political philosophies upon which this party was built are strong; no wind can remove those pillars. I look forward to working with all for the benefit of our nation.”

The RDC elections, held on Friday, saw surprising alliances form across regions. In Regions Eight and Ten, old rivals APNU and PPP/C appeared to have voted together, prompting claims of collusion from the WIN party. WIN accused APNU of siding with the PPP to block it from securing leadership positions in the regional councils.

In Region Eight (Potaro–Siparuni), the PPP won control of the council with the support of the lone APNU councillor, securing the chairmanship while awarding the vice-chair position to APNU. WIN described this as “clear collusion.” The party said, “For decades, the Guyanese people were fooled into believing that the PPP and the PNC were enemies. Now, with the chance to defeat the PPP, they are joining forces to stifle WIN.”

Similarly, in Region Ten, long regarded as an APNU stronghold, WIN captured the most votes in the regional elections but was unable to secure a clear majority. The election for Chairman ended in a tie between WIN’s Mark Goring and APNU’s Dominique Blair, with nine votes each. The final decision now rests with the Minister of Local Government, Priya Manickchand.

WIN’s leader, Azruddin Mohamed, said he was “very surprised” by the outcome. “You can clearly see that the PPP, APNU, and FGM voted together, while WIN stood alone. The same thing happened in Region Eight. It looks like they are in talks,” he said. Mohamed added that WIN only sought the opportunity to represent the people of Region Ten, stating, “They don’t want them; they wanted us. The PPP, APNU, and FGM are working together to keep WIN out.”

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• APNU, Cooperation, fallout, RDC, Terrence Campbell, We Invest in Nationhood, win

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