THE significant collapse of the People’s National Congress-Reform (PNCR)- led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) from the main opposition to a mere third-ranked party under the leadership of Aubrey Norton, needs self- analysis.

This is according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who during a press conference on Thursday said that the party needed serious introspection.

Founded in 1957 by Forbes Burnham, the PNC, later rebranded as PNCR and eventually APNU after merging with smaller parties.

The APNU held office from 2015–2020 in a coalition with the Alliance for Change (AFC). In the last Parliament, the two parties controlled 31 seats, with APNU holding 22.

In the 2025 General and Regional Elections, the political outfit We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) led by U.S.- sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed made a significant mark that came largely by making inroads in APNU’s strongholds.

WIN also did very well in Region 10, which is traditionally a PNCR/APNU traditional base.

Dr. Jagdeo commented on the massive loss in support APNU has faced and said that basic politics have stated that you do not enable someone to cannibalise your support through a “series of lies.”

In fact, Dr. Jagdeo opined that APNU’s miscalculation stemmed from its silent embrace of WIN, in hopes the newcomer would erode the PPP/C’s base. Instead, WIN’s rise fractured APNU’s own support.

“Well, you have the results here today… He (Norton) would have many sleepless nights to take Burnham’s party and reduce it to what it is today, APNU. This is what Norton has done with his leadership,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He further stated that APNU allowed its hate of the PPP/C to dominate its strategy and this led to its ultimate demise.

There were clear indications that APNU was hoping WIN would pressure the PPP/C’s strongholds, but instead, according to critics, it has laid bare the desperation within the APNU camp, as prominent figures along with party supporters abandoned ship, all while the PPP/C maintained its strength.

In an invited comment to the media on Nomination Day, PPP General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had said: “I think APNU has to worry more about the Mohamed than the People’s Progressive Party and their quiet collaboration is harming them. It’s backfiring [on] them.”