Latest update September 20th, 2026 10:40 AM
APNU says 2020 election fraud trial exposing PPP/C’s own irregularities
(Kaieteur News) – General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Sherwain Benjamin, on Friday said the ongoing election fraud trial is vindicating the party’s longstanding position that there is no evidence of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) attempting to rig the 2020 elections.
Benjamin, responding to questions at an APNU press conference, said the evidence emerging before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court is instead raising questions about the conduct of the PPP/C during the disputed elections.
General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Sherwain Benjamin
“We are saying, we have said, and we’ve said today again in our press statement, let the PPP/Civic bring the evidence of fraud. And you have rightly pointed out in saying whether we feel vindicated that the evidence has come out before the court has indicated that the PPP/Civic has rigged those elections. We’ve always maintained that when it comes to elections in this country, the PPP/Civic has always been part of doing those kinds of nefarious activity. And that is why they hide behind these trumped-up fraud allegations and election-rigging allegations,” he added.
Benjamin said his party wants the evidence surrounding the elections to be dealt with fairly, including allegations of irregularities involving the PPP/C.
He also criticised the conduct of some witnesses appearing in the case, saying their behaviour before the court has raised concerns about the manner in which the proceedings are being handled.
His comments came against the backdrop of Thursday’s tense cross-examination of former GECOM Commissioner and former Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn.
Benn was questioned by defense counsel Nigel Hughes about discrepancies he said he observed during the 2020 election tabulation at Ashmin’s building.
Under cross-examination, Benn admitted that although he said he witnessed discrepancies during the tabulation, he did not document them or make written notes.
The exchange became heated at times, with Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty intervening and warning Benn about his conduct after he repeatedly refused to answer some questions.
Benjamin said APNU is seeking an independent and even-handed account of what occurred during the 2020 elections.
He said that account must examine the conduct of every party involved and not focus only on APNU members and former electoral officials who are currently before the court.
“We are hoping at the end of the day not only for a vindication of the APNU but that justice will be served and those who are culpable of dealing a hand in the 2020 elections, and may I hasten to say those from the PPP, will be now brought to the court to answer,” Benjamin said.
Meanwhile, APNU Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews described the election fraud trial as “vengeance dressed in a robe,” accusing the PPP/C administration of using the case to politically persecute its opponents.
Andrews said the party continues to believe that the PPP/C has never adequately answered questions surrounding alleged irregularities during the 2020 elections.
“If you have evidence, present it, test it in court, and let the law take its course,” Andrews said, while stressing that a charge is not a conviction.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the party, Saiku Andrews
Benjamin said APNU is standing firmly behind its members and all those accused, and wants the court process to produce a full and impartial account of what happened during the 2020 elections.
He said that account should not only examine the allegations against APNU members and former electoral officials, but also whether anyone from the PPP/C played a role in electoral irregularities.
“We are hoping at the end of the day not only for a vindication of the APNU but that justice will be served and those who are culpable of dealing a hand in the 2020 elections, and may I hasten to say those from the PPP, will be now brought to the court to answer,” Benjamin said.
The election fraud case remains before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, with the accused entitled to the presumption of innocence.
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