GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed, Tuesday failed in his attempt to meet with the Speaker of Parliament, Manzoor Nadir, as the uncertainty continues over the election of an opposition leader.
WIN leader, Azruddin Mohamed, sitting outside the office of the Speaker, Manzoor Nadir, hoping for a meeting with regards to the election of an opposition leader in Guyana.The leader of the minority opposition, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton-Desir, has threatened to boycott next Monday’s 2026 national budget presentation to Parliament if an opposition leader is not selected by that time.
Nadir has so far not called the constitutionally required meeting of opposition legislators to elect the opposition leader amid speculation that he has been instructed by the Irfaan Ali government not to do so because Mohamed, the front runner for the position is facing extradition to the United States on fraud and other related charges.
President Ali has denied the accusation and Attorney General Anil Nandlall is on record as saying that electing Mohamed as opposition leader would tarnish the country’s image.
WIN is the party with the second highest number of seats in the Parliament with 16, surpassing the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that had commanded the position in the last parliament.
“I want (Vice President Bharrat) Jagdeo and Irfaan (Ali) to know that we won’t take this lightly…If we have to arrange peaceful protests, we’ll hit the streets next,” Mohammed told reporters after sitting outside the Speaker’s office.
Mohamed making reference to other countries, noted that “in different parts of the world, protesters do change situations”.
Mohamed said he had gone to the Parliament Building to meet with Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, as to when the meeting to elect an opposition leader would be held.
Mohamed said Nadir arrived, went to his office and even as he attempted to hold discussions with the Speaker, he was informed by a parliament office staff member that the Speaker would not be meeting with the WIN delegation.
But he hinted at possible legal action “after we exhaust all ends” telling reporters that the position of opposition leader is key to holding the government “accountable.
“We don’t know how we can move forward with a budget without the leader of the opposition,” he said, adding that he could not say how that position is a requirement for budgetary accountability.
The WIN Leader, however, noted that the position of opposition leader is needed to restructure the composition of the seven-member Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
“Right now, GECOM is doing claims and objections and I don’t have anyone there to represent my party and we’re the main opposition party,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, Walton-Desir said “we will not sit there and pretend that it is business as usual.
“So let me be clear: Forward Guyana Movement will not be sitting to listen to Ashni go on for hours while the government refuses to facilitate the election of the Leader of the Opposition. We will not lend legitimacy to nonsense,” she added.
The opposition legislator also questioned how the budget for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition was crafted as it is funded by the State through a subvention from Parliament.
“So, who has been engaged to determine that figure? What figure did they budget for the operation of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition when they have deliberately refused to allow one to be elected?”
The 65-seat National Assembly met on November 3, 2025 for the first and only time following the September 1 general and regional elections that saw the return of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to office.
Earlier this month, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, says Guyana needs to have in place an opposition leader based on the results of the September 1 general and regional elections.
“I think it’s incredibly important that you have a functioning parliament in any democracy and in order to have that, you do need a Leader of the Opposition. It just makes things work properly,” Theriot told reporters.
The US diplomat said steps should be taken to have the opposition leader in place at the earliest opportunity, adding ”I do think it’s very important for Guyana, as soon as possible, to elect a Leader of the Opposition”.
She also noted that the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom have all called for the election of the opposition leader.
