The Liberty and Justice Party has disowned one of its own regional candidates and according to LJP Leader, Lenox Shuman, the party no longer has confidence in the candidate, Jimmy James.
James’ served as the regional candidate for the party in the last elections and was submitted by the party as its representative for the Region 8 Democratic Council.
However, with the Council still to be sworn in, the LJP has been making moves to recall the nomination. GECOM has not been responding to its requests.
At first, the LJP claimed that the nominee was no longer in good health to perform his functions, pointing to the man’s COVID-19 diagnosis last year. He has made a full recovery and has said he is fit and ready to take up his seat. He has accused officials of his party of telling lies about him and his health.
But the issue appears to be more than just concerns about the candidate’s health.
With the APNU+AFC and the PPP tying with the same number of seats on the Regional Council, the LJP representative will be the one to break all ties on the Council.
The representative has already indicated that he intends to support the APNU+AFC’s nominee for Chairman of the Council since it is that party which gained the most votes in the region, with its marginal win over the PPP.
LJP Leader, Lenox Shuman does not agree with that position and in a video statement today on his Facebook page, he denounced that position of his candidate and accused the man of wanting to support rigging.
Shuman, who currently works for the PPP government while holding an opposition seat in the National Assembly, also lashed out at the Guyana Elections Commission, accusing the body of deliberately ignoring his requests to recall the candidate even before he has been sworn in.
The Elections Commission has offered no comment on the issue, but the situation has led to the many delays in the Region 8 Council being sworn in, while being blamed on other issues.
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