The Appeal Court has upheld the High Court’s ruling relating to the 2023 Local Government Election result for the district of Lengua/Indian Walk.

The UNC had filed an election petition against the EBC, with the High Court ruling that the EBC acted correctly in rejecting a disputed special ballot that did not have the returning officer’s initial.

Had it been counted, this ballot would have broken a deadlock for the district, as the UNC and PNM candidates were determined to have received the same number of votes.

The dismissal of the UNC’s appeal means there will be a by-election for Lengua/Indian Walk, as earlier announced by the EBC.

Chief Election Officer Fern Narcis-Scope, said notwithstanding the adversarial nature of litigation, the Election and Boundaries Commission acknowledges all political parties as important stakeholders in this country’s democratic process.

She adds that with respect to statements made by judges in both the High Court and Court of Appeal regarding the EBC’s conduct in this matter, “the Commission will review these comments in earnest and make the necessary adjustments in its operations for future elections.”