APNU likely to abstain from Opposition Leader vote

Jan 24, 2026 News

…says sole nominee will be WIN’s Azruddin Mohamed

(Kaieteur News) – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is likely to abstain from voting on Monday when opposition parliamentarians meet to select a leader of the opposition, according to the party’s lead Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Terrence Campbell.

At APNU’s press conference on Friday, Campbell addressed a notice circulating on social media suggesting there is a move to prevent We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed from becoming opposition leader and that APNU will not challenge for the post.

APNU likely to abstain from Opposition Leader vote

APNU Parliamentary Chief Whip, Ganesh Mahipaul

“That notice that you see on social media it is mischievous. WIN has 16 seats in the national assembly out of an opposition side of 29. WIN has clearly said that there will be one candidate for leader of the opposition coming from WIN Mr Azruddin Mohamed. It is our expectation that Mr Azruddin Mohamed will be elected as the leader of the opposition,” Campbell said.

He added that even if some WIN MPs were to support a candidate from another party and succeed, such a move would be short-lived. “Because WIN will remove those parliamentarians, call a vote of no-confidence in the leader of the opposition and replace the leader of the opposition. So, the notice makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever,” Campbell stated.

The 13th Parliament of Guyana was convened on November 2, 2025, and the election of the opposition leader is scheduled for Monday. WIN, led by Mohamed, holds 16 seats in the National Assembly, followed by APNU with 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) with one. Under the constitution, the leader of the opposition is elected by a majority of non-government MPs. With WIN holding the largest bloc, Mohamed is the presumed opposition leader.

Pressed on whether APNU will abstain from voting, Campbell said the party has taken a position that will become evident on Monday. “Because there will be no need for a vote. There will be one nominee who will be declared leader of the opposition. One nominee. The APNU has no intention of putting up a candidate for the position of leader of the opposition and it will be futile for Forward Guyana Movement to do so. There will be one nominee for leader of the opposition and it is our expectation that that person will be declared leader. There will be no need for a vote,” he said.

Campbell also stated, “There will be one nominee. The WIN party has enough members to support that nominee…with that one nominee, the person will be declared leader of the opposition. It is not in the interest of opposition collaboration for us to take any other stance on the issue.”

Meanwhile, APNU Parliamentary Chief Whip Ganesh Mahipaul cautioned that developments could still occur before Monday, noting the unpredictability of politics.

APNU lead MP, Dr. Terrence Campbell

“So, several things can happen between today and Monday…We are not shying away but there are possibilities of things can happen that is very much beyond us too because we don’t know necessarily what is happening in the People’s Progressive Party and what they are doing,” Mahipaul said.

He referenced recent remarks by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C. During a live broadcast on Tuesday evening, Nadir said he has a duty to protect the integrity of the house and suggested that Mohamed’s possible election would tarnish parliament, labelling him an “international fugitive.”

Nandlall has also said on multiple occasions that Mohamed being sanctioned by the United States and facing extradition proceedings would be unprecedented, deeply damaging and an indictment on Guyana.

Despite indicating there may be no need for APNU to vote on Monday, Campbell said he hopes there will be opposition unity going forward. He added that on matters requiring government consultation with the opposition leader, including certain appointments and the composition of parliamentary committees, he expects the opposition leader will consult with the wider opposition.

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APNU, Azruddin Mohamed, Ganesh Mahipaul, Opposition Leader, Terrence Campbell

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