PM Browne to Announce Election Date Tomorrow as Polls Claim Strong ABLP Lead

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed that the official date for Antigua and Barbuda’s general election will be announced on Tuesday night, as political tensions heighten and campaign activity intensifies across the country.

Speaking over the weekend on the Browne and Browne radio programme, the Prime Minister signaled that the long-anticipated announcement is imminent, telling listeners the nation “will not have to wait much longer” for clarity on when voters will head to the polls.

His comments come as the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) prepares for its political launch on Tuesday night at Nugent Avenue, where Browne is expected to formally disclose the election date.

The Prime Minister also pointed to internal polling data, which he said shows the ABLP maintaining a strong base of support among voters. According to a Don Anderson poll commissioned by the United Progressive Party (UPP), Browne claimed the ABLP holds core support exceeding 40 percent, driven largely by confidence in its leadership, policies, and track record in government.

In contrast, he said the UPP’s support stands at approximately 20 percent, with much of that backing rooted in party loyalty rather than performance or policy confidence. The remaining voters, he noted, are undecided.

Browne further argued that leadership remains a decisive factor for voters, citing another poll—reportedly conducted by Peter Wickham of Caribbean Development Research Services—which places him significantly ahead of opposition figures as the preferred choice for Prime Minister.

According to the figures shared, Browne commands support from roughly 70 percent of respondents, compared to 10 percent for Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle and 8 percent for political newcomer Harold Lovell.

Using the polling data to frame the political landscape, Browne suggested the opposition remains divided and has yet to convince voters it is ready to govern.

As anticipation builds ahead of Thursday’s expected announcement, the Prime Minister positioned the upcoming election as a clear choice between what he described as a government delivering results and an opposition still finding its footing.

The official declaration of the election date is expected to mark the formal start of what is shaping up to be a closely watched and highly contested campaign season.