Guyana's President Irfaan Ali has declared victory in the country's September 1 general and regional elections, with preliminary results showing his centre-right People's Progressive Party (PPP) securing a commanding lead over opposition parties.

According to data from the Guyana Elections Commission published in the early hours of September 4, the PPP won 242,451 votes, securing approximately 55.3% of the total and leading in seven of the country's ten electoral districts. This represents a share of the vote roughly 4.6 percentage points higher than its result in the 2020 election.

In a significant political shift, the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) populist party emerged as the second-largest force, securing 109,015 votes (24.9%) and majorities in two districts. Founded just three months ago by US-sanctioned business magnate Azruddin Mohamed, WIN displaced the traditional opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which garnered only 77,973 votes (17.8%).

"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.

"The PPP will go into the national assembly with a bigger majority than it did in 2020," said PPP General Secretary and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, as quoted by Reuters.

International observers from the OAS, CARICOM, and the Commonwealth stated that the election was credible and free from widespread fraud. Their preliminary reports highlighted only minor administrative problems and praised poll workers. The official winner will be declared after a recount is finalised.

Should these results align with the final election outcome, it would see Guyana's booming oil and gas sector continue on its current policy trajectory.

The incumbent government has centred its campaign on energy sector expansion, unveiling ambitious plans anchored by the Gas-to-Energy project, promising up to 50% reductions in electricity costs. The manifesto includes a second 300MW power plant at Wales and a ship-loading terminal for cooking gas exports to Caribbean Community markets.

In power, the PPP has prioritised major infrastructure projects alongside direct cash grants to citizens, including a universal one-off payout. On the campaign trail, President Ali pledged to continue these transfers, a move that responds to growing demands for the country's oil wealth to be shared directly with the population.