GECOM condemns WIN’s circulation of fake SOP, warns of police probe

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has strongly condemned the circulation of a fake Statement of Poll (SOP) by the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party, led by U.S.-sanctioned businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, describing it as a deliberate attempt to mislead the electorate and create a false impression of victory for a political party.

At a night press conference on Monday, GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward read a statement from Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud, who said the Commission had noted the appearance of the fabricated SOP just one minute after the scheduled close of polls.

The SOP appeared on the ‘Team Mohamed’s Facebook page less than five minutes after the close of polls at 18:00 hrs. This Facebook page is owned and managed by Azruddin.

“GECOM rejects the publication of fake Statements of Poll. It is impossible for the counting of ballots at any polling station to have commenced at that time. This despicable act can only be seen as creating a platform on which the political party associated with the Facebook page can create the impression that it has been successful at the polls,” Persaud’s statement said.

It added, “This despicable act can only be seen as creating a platform on which the political party associated with Team Mohameds’s Facebook page can create the impression that it has been successful at the polls.”

The CEO stressed that only GECOM is authorised to declare results, and that the public should rely solely on its official website and announcements from Returning Officers and Supernumerary Returning Officers in the districts and sub-districts.

National results, Persaud said, will be declared by GECOM in accordance with the law.

“The publication of fake results will be put to the Guyana Police Force for investigation,” he added.

Ward, responding to related questions, reminded that the Commission has consistently urged political parties and individuals to desist from using SOPs for unofficial declarations. She cautioned that the spread of false or premature information undermines transparency and risks confusing voters.

Her comments also touched on another controversy—photos of ballots circulating online. While one image was allegedly posted by a former national cyclist, Ward made it clear that GECOM has no investigative mandate.

“Investigating the origin of such photographs lies in the hands of the police,” she noted.

Ward said signs and notices had been displayed at polling stations barring the use of phones in voting compartments, with designated areas provided for voters to leave their devices. She expressed satisfaction that incidents of defiance had been limited.

Despite these challenges, GECOM maintains that the electoral process was conducted in keeping with the law and reiterated that the Commission remains the sole source of verified results.