Guyana – Azruddin Mohamed Elected Leader of the Opposition Amid Legal Scrutiny

2026-01-28 - 15:43

Non-government Members of Parliament in Guyana have elected businessman Azruddin Mohamed as the country’s new Leader of the Opposition following a constitutionally mandated meeting of the National Assembly. The meeting was chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir and convened in keeping with Article 184 of the Constitution of Guyana, which outlines the procedure for selecting the Opposition Leader from among non-governmental members of Parliament. In opening the proceedings, Speaker Nadir reminded members that the Constitution requires the election to be conducted under his chairmanship and by a show of hands, noting that he was not entitled to vote in the process. Mohamed was nominated by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Member of Parliament Gobin Harbhajan, with the nomination seconded by fellow WIN MP Tabitha Sarabo-Halley. No other nominations were submitted, and the process moved directly to voting. The Clerk of the National Assembly recorded the votes individually, with 17 members voting in favour of Mohamed. Speaker Nadir then formally declared him duly elected Leader of the Opposition. In his acceptance remarks, Mohamed described the moment as a significant milestone in Guyana’s democratic journey. He expressed appreciation for the orderly and respectful manner in which the process was conducted and underscored the importance of adhering to constitutional principles. Mohamed, whose party secured approximately 25 percent of the vote in the September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections, said the Opposition under his leadership would pursue a balanced approach in Parliament. He emphasized that while accountability would remain central to the Opposition’s role, cooperation with the government would be supported where it serves the interests of citizens. He also called for higher standards of conduct within the National Assembly, urging an end to personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric. Mohamed said Parliament should instead be a space for intelligent, respectful debate and principled disagreement, guided by what is best for the country. Addressing policy matters, he pledged that the Opposition would support government initiatives that benefit the population and firmly oppose those that do not, doing so in a responsible and fearless manner. Reflecting on Guyana’s political history, Mohamed referenced the enduring divisions that emerged following the split between the country’s early political leaders, Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham. He said the resulting legacy of race-based politics continues to affect the nation and argued that Guyana now requires a new political approach that represents all citizens equally, without exclusion. Mohamed also briefly addressed public discourse surrounding his legal challenges in the United States, reaffirming the principle of innocence until proven guilty. He said his focus was not on himself but on fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities to the people of Guyana with integrity and respect for the rule of law. He concluded by committing to restoring dignity and civility to parliamentary proceedings, stating that the Opposition would work to move the National Assembly away from hostility and division. With Mohamed’s election, WIN now assumes the role of Guyana’s main opposition force, replacing the long-standing opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity. Since the restoration of free and fair elections in 1992, APNU’s main constituent party, the People’s National Congress Reform, had held the position of official opposition, except during its five-year term in government from 2015 to 2020.