THE A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s presidential candidate, Aubrey Norton, while admitting that the party was taken aback by its dismal performance in Linden, one of its traditional strongholds, suggested that rival forces may have used money to sway voters.

“Unfortunately, in these elections, a lot of money played its role, and I think Linden might have been the victim of the money that was circulated,” Norton said during an interview today.

He said such an infraction is “short-lived,” underscoring that the APNU will regroup and work towards regaining Linden.

In Linden and Region 10, the party has found itself in a battle with U.S- sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed’s political outfit, We Invest in Nationhood, especially in areas which have been traditionally dominated by the APNU.

Various party officials, including Norton, highlighted the low voter turnout in this year’s General and Regional Elections.

Norton’s claim of money being used to influence the performance in Linden is not a new claim or concern raised as prior to the General and Regional Elections, the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had sounded the alarm on it.

In fact, a widely circulated video of presidential hopeful, Azruddin handing out money in the hinterland prompted the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to remind all stakeholders in the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections that they all have a statutory duty and civic responsibility to contribute to the elections being conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner.

The Commission took the opportunity to strongly emphasise the need for voters and other concerned stakeholders to be informed of the following provisions as enacted in the Representation of the People Act Cap: 1:03: – “It is an offence for any person, including the voter himself, to communicate at any time to any person, any information about the political party for which any voter has voted on his behalf or as a proxy on behalf of another voter; Similarly, it is an offence for anyone to influence, by any means, a voter to display his ballot paper, to make known the political party for whom he has voted on his behalf, or as a proxy.

Further, it is an offence for any person, directly or indirectly, to offer any money, gift, and/or a loan, to any voter to secure the vote of any voter at the elections.

Any person who commits any of the above offences shall be liable on summary conviction to pay a fine and to imprisonment for six months.”

“Persons convicted for any of the above offences may also be prohibited from participating in future elections,” GECOM said.