President Irfaan Ali has declared victory in Guyana’s general election after his ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) secured more than 240,000 votes and majorities in seven of the country’s 10 electoral districts.
“The results are all out there, as published by the Guyana elections commission. The numbers are clear. The people have spoken in an overwhelming way. We have won these elections with a remarkable margin,” Ali told The Guardian on Wednesday.
Preliminary figures from the electoral commission show the PPP with 242,451 votes, more than double the tally of its nearest rival. The outcome is expected to give the governing party an expanded parliamentary majority, ensuring Ali a second five-year term.
The results marked a shake-up in opposition politics. The upstart We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, launched just three months ago by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, placed second with 109,015 votes and control of two districts. The long-established A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) lagged behind with 77,973 votes nationwide.
The election on Monday was dominated by debate over how to manage the country’s massive oil windfall. Since ExxonMobil began production in 2019, Guyana — a nation of just 800,000 people — has earned roughly $7.5 billion in royalties and sales, making it one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Ali’s government has funneled funds into roads, hospitals, schools and eliminated tuition at the state university.
Still, poverty remains entrenched. According to a 2024 report by the Inter-American Development Bank, 58% of Guyanese live below the poverty line despite the oil boom that has quadrupled the national budget. Analysts say Ali’s second term will test his ability to turn petroleum wealth into broader prosperity while navigating a simmering border dispute with neighboring Venezuela.
Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the vote. WIN’s Mohamed, who is under U.S. sanctions over alleged corruption charges he denies, claimed “great irregularities” in the conduct of the election and called for recounts. APNU leader Aubrey Norton also requested recounts in three districts. International observers from the Organization of American States and the Commonwealth, however, have not reported major irregularities.
Though turnout was about 37,000 lower than in 2020, the PPP appeared to expand its vote share while APNU lost ground to WIN’s populist campaign.
