Venezuela conducted regional and parliamentary elections on May 25 for a governor and lawmakers to represent Essequibo, an oil-rich region that remains under Guyana's administration despite Caracas' territorial claims. The move has escalated tensions between the two South American neighbours over the disputed territory.

The electoral process took place in a specially created micro-district within Venezuela's Bolivar state, comprising 21,403 voters near the Guyanese border, according to AFP. Notably, Essequibo's 125,000 inhabitants – representing over 15% of Guyana's population – did not participate in the Venezuelan election, as no polling stations were established within the 160,000-square km territory that Guyana administers.

Venezuelan voters elected a new governor, six deputies to Venezuela's National Assembly, and seven representatives to a regional legislative assembly for Essequibo, all belonging to President Nicolas Maduro's socialist ruling party. According to the government-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE), Admiral Neil Villamizar, the candidate of the Maduro-aligned Great Patriotic Pole, became the first governor of the Guayana Esequiba state after securing 97% of the vote. However, it remains unclear how these elected officials intend to govern a territory they cannot access or control.

The electoral exercise drew sharp criticism from Guyanese officials, who view it as a violation of their sovereignty. The timing proved particularly symbolic, as Guyana simultaneously celebrated its 59th Independence Day on May 25. In Baramita, Region One, near the Venezuelan border, national flags flew prominently as over 1,000 Guyanese residents, mostly from the Carib tribe, marked the occasion, according to OilNOW.

This unilateral move by Venezuela represents a significant escalation in the long-standing territorial dispute over Essequibo, which has gained renewed importance following major oil discoveries in Guyanese waters in 2015.

Maduro's decision is widely seen as a strategy to shore up support for his regime, given that backing for the annexation of Essequibo cuts across political lines in Venezuela.

With tensions rising after Venezuelan naval vessels entered Guyanese waters, this vote threatens to further destabilise regional relations and could complicate international efforts to mediate the dispute, potentially affecting Guyana's burgeoning oil sector.