The Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Executive has chosen to conduct a poll in the All Saints West constituency in order to determine who will ultimately serve as the Party’s caretaker and challenger to incumbent MP, Anthony Smith Jr.
On Friday, the ABLP executive committee decided to quash the run-off agreement signed by all three primary challengers to hold a poll two months from today.
Regional pollster, Peter Wickham, has been listed as one of the pollsters expected to conduct the poll.
Following the ABLP primary election on March 15, it was initially expected that the Party’s executive would be ratifying Lamin Newton as the winner of the primary, having received 157 votes in his favour—15 votes more than the nearest challenger, Regis Burton.
However, on March 16, Burton wrote to the Party, challenging the move, and declaring that the Executive would be violating an agreement signed by all three primary contestants, where it was agreed that a primary run-off would be held if none were able to receive over 50 percent of the total votes cast.
Burton, in his letter, also pointed to various irregularities in the primary process, including ABLP agents initially stating that 456 ballots was cast on the night, but after the vote count, only 359 votes were recorded, with no spoiled ballots.
Lamin Newton who had already congratulations from the Prime Minister, said that he would not participate in any run-off.