2020 Elections fraud trial: “I was happy to see them go” – Shuman blasts APNU/AFC for failing Guyanese during cross-examination

Former Presidential candidate for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman, on Tuesday acknowledged that he had contentions with the failings of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) party while in Government and admitted that he was happy to see them demit office in 2020 as he faced cross-examination by the defence lawyers when proceedings in the elections fraud case continued on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Shuman also testified to having obtained at least two of the Statements of Poll (SoPs) directly from Presiding Officers at the polling stations as he faced questions about the verification of the SoPs he used to determine that there were discrepancies in the elections results numbers being tabulated by the Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo for the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.
“It was a copy issued to the party by the presiding officers at those polling stations. They were physically given,” Shuman noted in response to questions from defence attorney Nigel Hughes.
The verification of the SoPs used in 2020 to challenge Mingo’s allegedly fraudulent results has been one of the main arguments that the defence’s strategy hinges on. However, several witnesses in the case thus far have testified to having personally verified the SoPs they obtained and used to challenge Mingo’s results.
The only witness of the day on Tuesday, Shuman found himself thoroughly grilled by Attorneys Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels and Eusi Anderson about changes to details between his statements given to the Police in 2020 and what he later testified to in court, as well as contentions over his knowledge of his selection as a Member of Parliament for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and campaigning with the PPP/C during the recent 2025 election season.
Shuman faced cross-examinations about his recollection of the events and activities that unfolded when he participated in the tabulation of the Region Four votes from March 3 to 13, 2020, as well as his participation in the nationwide recount process and the guarding of the ballot boxes as the recount took place.
The case took a turn as Shuman was questioned by Attorney Daniels about his recent selection to be a Parliamentarian for the PPP/C in the 13th Parliament, where the PPP/C had won 36 of the 65 seats. Earlier in the day, Shuman denied having any knowledge that he was selected for the National Assembly.
“I received no such notification. I cannot confirm that. I am simply saying that I am not aware,” Shuman said.
However, Shuman was challenged with news articles and the broadcast video recording of the recent swearing-in of the current administration’s Cabinet, where proposed MPs were also named by President Dr Irfaan Ali. However, questioned about the video, Shuman later confirmed that his MP announcement was made by the President.
“I will confirm that the President made such an announcement,” Shuman said.
To build their case, the defence sought to challenge Shuman’s credibility, with him being questioned about his employment and his time as Deputy Speaker during the 12th Parliament, as well as former allegations of misconduct that he faced during his time as a Toshao when the APNU/AFC was in Government.
Questioned by Anderson, Shuman testified that during the APNU+AFC time in office, several of their policies made life harder for indigenous communities, and he did face antagonistic interactions with the then Government. He acknowledged that there was no love lost between him and the APNU/AFC Government.
“Due to their systemic failure to the country, I was very happy to see them go. The [APNU+AFC] Government was failing the people. [They imposed] taxes on air travel, outboard engines, fuel, just about anything,” Shuman explained as he was questioned by Anderson during the afternoon session of court.
Shuman noted that he was also at loggerheads with the then Government over their refusal to call elections after a parliamentary no-confidence motion was passed against the then Government.
The case will continue today.