HISTORY is replete with examples of the peaceful transitions of power in democracies. In these countries, central political figures have always agreed before or after the polls to yield to the will of the people or voters in an election once the official results of the elections body are declared.

They phone or write the winner congratulating him/her on the victory at the polls or simply stay calm, and say nothing that would cause a widespread conflict or impair the transition process. They calmly step aside and allow the system of governance to transition, while they make their way to the courts to seek some relief if they have evidence of fraud or election skulduggery.

Similarly, history would also show countless instances when governments or central political figures refused to give up power. This is the case for certain Middle Eastern and African countries and a sprinkling of other countries.

There were cases where they held onto power because they felt the elections were fraudulent, not free or fair. Other cases would even see them holding out and not conceding defeat, which in turn led to violence and conflicts that significantly destroyed the moral, ethnic, cultural and economic fabric of their societies.

Closer to home, there has been no recorded case of this type of behaviour affecting the other countries of the region, except Guyana.

Since Guyana gained independence, we have struggled and toyed with various models and governments. The 1968 and 1972 elections were fraudulent but the PNC who won them was allowed by the then opposition PPP to rule. So were the elections of 1980 and 1985, but again PPP allowed the PNC to govern while it continued to find ways to expose the electoral fraud that was taking place, in some instances, right before their eyes.

1992 was a watershed moment in this country and brought the PPP to victory and government because the first free, fair, and free-from-fear elections were held. After the 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2011 elections, the APNU+AFC Coalition finally won. The incumbent PPP at that time was tempted to hold on to power and fight, but swiftly oversaw what now has been a seamless transition of power to the APNU+AFC coalition. It was peaceful and not violent.

Fast-track to 2020 when the APNU+AFC lost but tried to rig the elections. David Granger, for whatever reason, tried to become president again three times with false declarations being made by his inner circle. They held onto power for five months past the elections. Some historians would claim a two-year and two-month period. But the international community, GECOM, the Guyanese public, and the PPP made life uncomfortable for them and stood up to APNU+AFC. The PPP eventually was declared the winner and Granger lost power.

A new tide of change gripped the country and one would have thought that the APNU+AFC and their agents would know not to test the resolve of GECOM, the Guyanese public or the international community again, as there was zero tolerance for cheating, rigging, electoral fraud or skullduggery. It would not be stomached again.

But, here comes PNC, which was hiding in the bowels of the APNU+AFC coalition until the coalition vomited it up and it was forced to go its way, talking some very worrying things and giving hints about its plan for elections in 2025.

Firstly, recall that one of its so-called ‘Circle of Elders’, former prime minister, Hamilton Greene, justified the rigging of elections. It was in February this year. He said, “If, as I told one of the groups that I met this [last Friday] morning they say he rigged elections, I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have.”

He then was forced to clarify, later apologising for the “harsh” words and “lapsus linguae” but not before the party leader Aubrey Norton and newcomer Ganesh Mahipaul sought to pour cold water and explain away what they thought their elder meant.

It was clear as day that Green was letting the cat out the bag and ‘rigging’ was thought of as a ‘PNC-way of winning elections’ in this country. Why else would the party allow him to say what he said and to whom he said it? The truth was Green was not aware there would be cameras at the event.

Secondly, the public saw a headline flashed about a media house which read, “PNCR will accept election victory with a bad voters list.”

They were taken back by the double standard, hypocrisy and duplicity. In reading the article one would understand that it to be the position of the PNC or at least Mahipaul.

So, in essence, only if the party loses the upcoming elections with the same voters’ list, which they have complained about, then the elections are fraudulent, not credible, and free or fair? Make it make sense.

But it does make sense to a political mind and all politicians could smell what’s coming next. The PNC has been making a case without any legitimate reason or evidence, all this time, against GECOM and Claudette Singh. They have tricked some of us into thinking they cannot win and would not accept victory, because the list is bad and un-sanitised. They fooled the Guyanese public on all the electoral problems that they are raising in the public sphere about GECOM and the voters’ list.

They are laying the groundwork because despite their confidence, the PNC and its grandma knows that the writing is on the wall that the PPP will win the next elections with flying colours. Mahipaul did not mean to ‘misspeak’ but he told the public a very dangerous thing. He said that the PNC would not accept the results come 2025 if they lose the elections and sought to bamboozle the public by attempting to qualify his statements.

Thirdly, this is the second time that the public has witnessed what the PNC would say ‘is not their position’. Well, maybe, the media would ask Norton if he would accept the election results if they are largely considered to be free and fair in 2025.

The government and GECOM must guard against any possible event of the country being held to ransom because of any political party’s expectation of how the polls will go. Both the PNC and PPP will duel fairly in the lead-up to and during the elections, but must be miles away while GECOM declares the official winner.

And, there can be an inquest into all allegations of wrongdoing, but that must come only when GECOM or the courts decide. The country must respect the law. And, whoever wins the 2025 polls must demonstrate political maturity and concede defeat. Nothing else, apart from what is spelt out in law, will suffice.

This notion that a politician or party could hold the country at ransom is dangerous and worrisome. After all, if the PNC does not act maturely now, there are legal systems that could be explored to make every political actor know their place. The will of the people and the constitution are supreme not the will of the freedom house or congress place.

Finally, GECOM continues to be maligned and has its name unfairly slaughtered by the PNC and its agents. Nothing is wrong with the list that cannot be fixed by the continuous registration cycle. Norton, Manipaul and others know this. By their admission, the list is not the problem here.

The real problem seems to be a lack of ideas and plans by the opposition. The opposition does not want to work but expects to be paid handsomely when it is elections. This is the root and germane cause of all the opposition woes.

If you don’t want to work, will the opposition rig the polls next year? Yes! The public will be looking and the politicians waiting with bated breath for the PNC to attempt to rig the 2025. Listen this time, nah long time…

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.