Gail Alexander
Senior Political Reporter
Preliminary results released by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) from Monday’s General Election show the United National Congress (UNC) securing 26 seats, the People’s National Movement (PNM) winning 13, and the Tobago People’s Party taking two.
The UNC has, however, requested recounts in three constituencies, which began yesterday.
Monday’s voter turnout, from the total registered electorate of 1,153,850, was approximately 54 per cent.
Guardian Media checks showed this was lower than in the 2020 General Election—during the pandemic period—when the turnout was 58.08 per cent from an electorate of 1,134,136.
The EBC released the results yesterday, confirming the UNC removed the PNM from government after two terms.
The election was contested by 161 candidates representing 17 political parties, plus three independents.
The EBC stated: “The preliminary tabulation and verification of results from the parliamentary elections held on Monday, April 28, 2025, have been completed. Based on the preliminary count, the United National Congress (UNC) has emerged as the leading party in the parliamentary elections, securing 26 of the 41 constituencies. The People’s National Movement (PNM) secured 13, and the Tobago People’s Party secured two.”
The total number of ballots cast was 617,712.
The UNC, led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar (now prime minister-elect), obtained 334,874 votes.
The PNM, led by party political leader Dr Keith Rowley and now former prime minister Stuart Young, won 220,160.
The TPP, led by Tobago House of Assembly Chairman Farley Augustine, obtained 13,857 ballots.
The EBC also stated the votes for the other parties contesting (see chart).
The EBC stated that the UNC has formally requested general recounts, inclusive of poll cards, in the following constituencies:
• Arouca/Lopinot
• Malabar/Mausica
• San Fernando East
The Arouca/Lopinot seat was won by PNM’s Marvin Gonzales. The Malabar/Mausica seat was won by Dominic Romaine and the San Fernando East seat by Brian Manning. All three recounts commenced at 3 pm yesterday.
The EBC added, “These preliminary results are provisional and remain subject to final validation, pending the conclusion of the requested recounts.”
PNM votes drop, UNC increases each election since 2015
Guardian Media’s research showed that Monday’s poll marked the PNM’s latest reduction in votes–and the UNC’s latest increase–since the 2015 polls.
According to the EBC report for the 2015 General Election, the PNM won that election with 378,729 votes amid a voter turnout of 66.8 per cent from an electorate of 734,271. The UNC, which lost that election, obtained 290,074 votes.
In the 2020 General Election, the PNM polled fewer votes–322,180–but still copped the popular vote. The UNC increased its tally to 309,654.
The total number of ballots cast in 2020 was 656,892. Voter turnout was 58.08 per cent from an electorate of 1,134,136.
But in Monday’s election, with a higher electorate of 1,153,850 and a lower voter turnout of 54 per cent, the PNM lost votes in both Trinidad and Tobago across the 41 constituencies.
However, the UNC increased its vote count in the 39 seats it contested in Trinidad only.
The TPP, in Tobago, also overpowered not only the PNM but also the party it was once part of–the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP)–and bested the Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) and others contesting in the sister isle.
The results charted by the EBC showed the following number of votes for the 17 parties and three people who contested Monday’s election:
All People’s Party – 718
Class Action Reform Movement – 22
Congress of the People – 6,481
The Hyarima Movement – 24
Innovative Development Alliance – 143
Movement for National Development – 560
National Coalition for Transformation – 53
New National Vision – 268
National Transformation Alliance – 5,932
Progressive Democratic Patriots – 1,443
Progressive Empowerment Party – 9,379
Patriotic Front – 21,010
People’s National Movement – 220,160
Trinidad Humanity Campaign – 105
Tobago People’s Party – 13,857
United National Congress – 334,874
Unity of the People – 220
E Singh – 47
V Johnson – 470
L George – 38
Rejected ballots – 1,908
Total – 617,712