Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has declared newly appointed Senator Kiz Johnson the frontrunner to unseat sitting MP Sherfield Bowen in the St. Philip South constituency, citing compelling internal polling data indicating a substantial reversal in voter preferences.
Johnson secured a decisive victory in Thursday’s Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) primary, amassing 167 votes against her closest competitor’s mere 12 votes. Within 24 hours of this electoral triumph, she was officially sworn into office as a government senator.
In an exclusive interview with ABS Television, Prime Minister Browne characterized Johnson’s primary success as “an astonishing victory,” particularly noteworthy given her late entry into the political contest. “She entered the race literally two weeks before the primary and managed to defeat both a former minister and another candidate who had been building presence for three years,” Browne remarked.
Browne emphasized the significance of Johnson’s strong support base in critical areas, specifically noting her substantial backing from Freetown residents. This demographic support, combined with recent polling data, suggests formidable electoral viability against the incumbent United Progressive Party representative.
According to the Prime Minister’s disclosure, empirical evidence from constituency polls demonstrates a substantial erosion of support for MP Bowen, who initially captured the seat during the 2023 general elections. Browne attributed Bowen’s previous electoral success to transient national circumstances rather than enduring political support.
“The previous election cycle occurred during period of significant economic pressures, including heightened living costs that created headwinds for our administration,” Browne explained. “Current indicators suggest these temporary factors have substantially diminished, creating favorable conditions for Johnson’s candidacy.”
The Prime Minister concluded with a definitive prediction: based on comprehensive polling data and demonstrated voter enthusiasm, “Kiz will definitely beat him” in the upcoming electoral contest.