Dear Editor,
It comes as no surprise the speed at which the controversy surrounding the declaration of the Region 4 results has been used to cast the PNCR as the rogue. The APNU+AFC government (of which the PNCR forms part) has never quite developed the fleetness of feet when it comes to defending itself against political attacks and criticisms. The challenged credibility of GECOM’s Region 4 declaration of results, and therefore the legitimacy of APNU+AFC as the winner, however, is the coalition’s biggest political test, one which it cannot afford to fail.
Its foremost priority is not to allow any shortcomings at GECOM to stain or delegitimize its victory. The coalition can no longer sit back and allow “GECOM to do its job.” It must instead incessantly insist that GECOM get its act together in the counting of the votes. It must voice demands that GECOM must take specific actions, such as recounts, to ensure all doubts are removed in the minds of the public, the observer and diplomatic missions, and the world at large as to the true results of the 2020 election.
Lastly, there may be several ways to rig an election. But tampering with or bypassing the Statements of Poll, as suggested by ANUG in its letter to SN (March 7th), is the most foolish and therefore the least likely to happen.
I remain confident that the country can sort all this out.
Yours faithfully,
Sherwood Lowe
