Hiding SoPs shows APNU/AFC’s fear of count and recount

…PPP/C has nothing to hide – Ali

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali has lashed out at the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition for spreading what he calls “propaganda” that his party is afraid of having the countrywide recount of the votes cast in the March 2, 2020 polls.

During a brief statement via a video posted on his Facebook page, Ali challenged the APNU/AFC officials, whom he said, are making false claims that the coalition has won the recent elections, to make their Statements of Poll (SoPs) available for the public to see.

“Let me be very clear: the PPP/C is not afraid of any recount. We have made it very clear that we have our SoPs, the SoPs are out there, the

persons who are afraid are those who refuse to bring to the public their copies of the SoPs,” Ali fumed.
The Presidential Candidate noted that GECOM also has a responsibility to share its copies of the SoPs with all the Commissioners, but the electoral body has refused to do so.
He added that the SoPs were available to every political party who contested the elections, once they had a representative in the polling station on Election Day. “Where are those SoPs? Why is it that those SoPs are hidden? What is there to hide in those SoPs?” Ali asked.
“I challenge the APNU/AFC to make their SoPs available,” Ali said.
He added that the international community and the entire Guyanese public know exactly which party won the elections.
Notwithstanding this, he said that the PPP/C was committed to supporting all the steps to ensure that the recount is carried out to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
Ali also blasted the coalition for rejecting key measures which he said would have added credibility to the recount process. He said that there was no justification for rejecting live-steaming of the recount and having the Auditor General or a reputable audit firm aid the process.
Almost every stakeholder involved in the elections had signalled their support for live-streaming of the national recount on the basis that it would have boosted public confidence in the process and made it easier for the results to be accepted by all parties.
“We are not going to rest until the votes are counted and a legitimate government is sworn in,” Ali promised.
It is now 60 days since the elections were held and a credible winner is yet to be officially declared by GECOM.
Much drama followed the declaration of fraudulent elections results, on two occasions, for District Four by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo. The courts rejected both declarations and paved the way for a recount of the votes before a winner is declared.
GECOM is in the process of finalising arrangements for the recount, which is expected to commence soon.