LGE 2023: APNU requests recount in Mahdia

The Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has requested a recount in the municipality of Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro- Siparuni) after it clinched an equal number of seats as the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and lost one constituency by a single vote.

Mahdia is one of two towns where APNU and the governing PPP/C won equal seats; they both won four seats here.

GECOM’s Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud on Thursday, confirmed that a recount has been requested by the APNU in this municipality. He said the recount will likely commence on Friday.

Based on the results published on GECOM’s website, APNU won two of the four constituencies while the PPP won another two.

In Constituency Two, however, the APNU candidate lost by a single vote and APNU Chairman, Aubrey Norton, at a virtual press conference on Thursday, explained this is why a recount was requested. He believes the party won more votes there.

In the Proportional Representation portion of the election, commonly called the popular vote, APNU’s 327 votes were lower than the PPP/C’s 330 votes.

The PPP/C’s General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday posited that his party will take the Mayorship of Mahdia because it won the popular vote.

APNU and the PPP/C also tied for nine constituency seats in the municipality of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni- Mazaruni). Here too, Dr. Jagdeo says his party will take the Mayorship because it won the popular vote.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C has requested a recount in four areas including Constituency Six in Georgetown. Here, the PPP/C lost by four votes but there were 152 rejected ballots.