COI leader Lincoln Bain speaks to the press after a solid showing in Pinewood during the general election on May 12, 2026. Photo: Nikia Charlton
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE Coalition of Independents failed to win a seat in yesterday’s general election, but it cemented its status as a spoiler that the major parties can no longer dismiss, siphoning off protest votes that might otherwise have strengthened the Free National Movement, especially in New Providence.
The party performed strongly in Pinewood, where leader Lincoln Bain nearly unseated Progressive Liberal Party incumbent Myles Laroda. Early projections showing him leading the race sent social media into a frenzy.
Mr Laroda eventually held the seat with 1,446 votes, while Mr Bain finished second with 1,132 votes. Free National Movement candidate Denarii Rolle trailed behind. This was the first time a COI candidate had gained more votes than a major political party candidate in a race.
The result marked a significant improvement for Mr Bain, who received 579 votes — roughly 17 percent of ballots cast — in Pinewood in the 2021 general election.
Elsewhere, COI candidates posted performances that reinforced the party’s growing influence. In Englerston, Faith Percentie received more votes than FNM candidate Heather McDonald, even as PLP incumbent Glenys Hanna-Martin retained the seat for a sixth consecutive term.
Several COI candidates also retained their deposits after receiving at least ten percent of the vote in their constituencies, showing that the party did more than merely appear on the ballot. It carved out a measurable bloc of voters frustrated with the major parties.
Opposition Leader Michael Pintard warned before election day that COI and independent candidates could split the opposition vote. After conceding, he repeated that view, saying their presence helped the PLP.
“We made the point during the election that a vote for the COI or a vote for an independent, it's a vote for the PLP,” he said. “So, we understand that clearly.”
The COI’s rise has been powered by a hard-edged message on immigration and distrust of the political establishment. Oftentimes over the past five years, the party aroused the attention of the Bahamian public far more than the FNM could.
Speaking to supporters after the result, Mr Bain rejected former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s previous claim that elections in The Bahamas could not be stolen.
Mr Bain alleged that Mr Laroda’s vote count “jumped” during tabulation after earlier trends suggested he was on pace to win Pinewood.
He specifically questioned the handling of advanced poll ballots, claiming election officials failed to maintain proper accountability during tabulation.
Despite disputing the result, he urged supporters not to lose heart, saying political change would require long-term organisation and sacrifice.
“Nothing worth having is easy,” he said. “The fight has just begun.”
He called on COI supporters to become more active in future elections by monitoring polling stations and participating in recounts.
“You cannot go to war without enough soldiers,” he said. “We shouldn’t have one poll that doesn’t have three people watching.”
Mr Bain framed the dispute as part of a broader fight for electoral reform, comparing it to earlier political changes in The Bahamas.
“The PLP didn’t win until they lobbied for one man, one vote,” he said. “The FNM had to get the purple finger system going on to stop people from voting several times.”
He argued that weaknesses in the electoral process must now be addressed in a similar way.
Comments
Sickened 1 week ago
Boy he came close though. Kudos to him for trying. Gotta respect that!
mandela 1 week ago
Stay the course Lincoln, stay in the fight, keep pushing, just dont be another Branville, wishy washy. Your time is out there, five years passes quickly.
LastManStanding 1 week ago
Facts. Bran had a blueprint for success if he would have just stuck it out a little longer but quit and took his ball home. Lincoln has stuck it out and will be sitting in Parliament soon.
licks2 1 week ago
PLP retained their people in PWG. . .FNM lost theirs to LB. . .LB benefited from a protest vote by mostly FNM members who did not want MP as their leader!! Remember now. . .the PLP won PWG with their base members, like they did in 2021 election!! Do the math. . .count the numbers for the last election! The FNM numbers last election switched to COI this go around and the COI numbers last election moved to the FNM tally or there abouts! FNM base members will not vote for PLP. . .so they voted for the alternative. . .some it seems! PLP base will never vote for COI. . .and slightly for FNM!
Therefore, if the PLP and FNM place good candidates within PWG. . .both will vote their party base!! Never COI!! LB is a political pariah. . .pure unelectable!! I expected the FNM to win that seat. . .However, both parties put weak candidates in that constituency, . . . therefore the most fluid party votes were most likely to gravitate to COI as an alternative choice. Read the numbers for the last 3 to 4 elections in PWG. . . they have about 1,600 voters that roll-around in there and eventually determine which party wins in that constituency. That's the approximate numbers for the FNM LAST ELECTION WIN IN PWG!
This election was about leadership. . . BD just did it better this go-around!! NOT BUFFONERY AND ANTICS!!
LastManStanding 6 days, 10 hours ago
Ok here's the problem with your theory: the Coalition vote rose across the board and not just in one constituency. Yes some of the seats they came 2nd in were PhellP vote sinks anyways, but it goes to show that the message of the Coalition is resonating far better with the former FNM grassroots than it is with the current iteration of the party. If the FNM wants to ever win another election, or even continue existing as a meaningful political force, they will have to cut a deal with Lincoln and agree to not run against Coalition in certain seats next time. As long as we have this stupid FPTP system that is the only way they will win.
licks2 6 days, 5 hours ago
Yes. . .I have to agree with your assessments for sure!! I can do you one further. . .all things being equal, if the FNM and COI continue to "banter-about" and remain "wild-horses" parties, then we may be in for an extended reign (s) for the PLP. But, I believe that if the COI retains its current "household" footprints as shown by this election right on into the next election, and FNM continue to not support their poor leaders by not voting or protesting their votes, the COI and FNM will have to merge to remain relevant against a PLP political machine!! If both parties remain antagonistic to each other. . .they will repeat this election out-comes for the foreseeable future. There must be a coalition of FNM and COI to take-down this PLP giant!
LastManStanding 5 days, 23 hours ago
You know I've spent some time thinking about our political history and current parallels lately in the lead up to this election and honestly it's funny how history repeats sometimes. In a way we are back to the genesis of the FNM where the Free PLP and the remnants of the UBP had to be grown adults and put aside some big differences to function as a viable opposition. The FNM had a very tumultuous history until a certain man named Ingraham had a buss up with his old party, came over, and brought with him a whole wave of grassroots support. The PLP think they are high and mighty right now but truthfully they have not even matched their 2012 levels of support in the past 2 general elections. Brave is old, and this is likely his last term no matter how it ends. Watch the road when this big bussup for PLP leadership to succeed him soon starts. Not everyone is a fan of the obvious player.
TalRussell 6 days, 6 hours ago
Little could've we've known, so many would engage in continuation after election talk, about the elevated COI as 2nd party to the governing party. Is it ok, I ask, why so many would still bother to engage-in, who gets to lead the 3rd redshirts', that movement with all the now discarded Pum Pums.
Is it because of the "first and second to cross the Finish Line flawed rule?"
licks2 6 days, 5 hours ago
We will all have to agree, COI has past it "eye-tooth" as a political party. . .the FNM has become a dud under the leadership of Pintard. . .the FNM has legacy and COI has hope!! Both groups now suffer from toxic leaderships!! It seems that Bahamians are disgusted with their childish and dishonest natures! Both will lie at the "drop-of-a-hat" so to speak!!
The electorate is disillusioned with them!! Trust me on that one. . .I know of FNMs who turned and voted PLP and younger FNMs who told me that Pintard makes no sense and they are not comfortable giving either one their country to run!!! I have to concur with this sentiment. . .neither LB nor MP are ready for high-time political leadership!! Their ambitions are running too far ahead of their abilities!! Both are too self-absorbed to see the light and move aside for better ability to take their places!!
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