Ali Targets Azruddin as Mohamed’s Momentum Rattles PPP Strongholds

President Irfaan Ali appears increasingly unnerved by the surging political campaign of billionaire businessman Azruddin Mohamed, whose growing influence, especially in traditional People’s Progressive Party (PPP) strongholds, is challenging the party’s long-standing political dominance ahead of General and Regional Elections, scheduled, September 1^st

Tuesday, in an early morning address from State House, President Ali struck a defensive and ominous tone, warning voters that their ballot could jeopardise Guyana’s stability and international standing. Without naming names, the president alluded to Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, both sanctioned by the U.S. for alleged tax evasion and gold smuggling, suggesting they posed a threat to national security and Guyana’s relations with Washington.

“We can’t risk our relationship with the United States, who have already said to us that they have serious national security concerns about individuals. One such individual believes he can sacrifice the safety and security of an entire country for his self-interest,” Ali said, attempting to reframe the election as a referendum on national security.

However, on the ground, Mohamed’s campaign is gaining unstoppable traction. The businessman’s outreach has extended far beyond his base, penetrating deep into PPP territory—Unity, Bharrat Jagdeo’s village and Port Mourant, the symbolic home of PPP founder Dr. Cheddi Jagan. In these once-loyal areas, large crowds have turned out, not just to see Mohamed but to voice years of pent-up frustration and neglect under the Irfaan Ali government.

Political analysts say this is no ordinary campaign season. “This is a new dimension not seen in Guyana’s politics for decades,” said one commentator. “The grip the PPP thought it had on these communities is slipping—badly. The anger is palpable, the turnout is massive, and the silence that once protected PPP loyalty is gone.”

Mohamed’s recent visit to hinterland communities saw equally large crowds, underscoring the breadth of public discontent in areas the PPP has long assumed were safe. According to observers, the scale and openness of the complaints have exposed deep fractures within the party’s support base.

In response, the PPP has reportedly turned to a familiar tool of political control: 10-day contract workers. Multiple reports indicate the party has been using these temporary state-paid workers to disrupt Mohamed’s events, flood social media with anti-Mohamed content, and stoke fear in rural communities. Political insiders say these operatives are being mobilized across regions to deflect from legitimate public grievances and smear Mohamed’s growing appeal.

“The use of 10-day workers to wage a political counter-offensive is not only cynical—it’s taxpayer-funded sabotage,” said one analyst. “Instead of addressing why voters are leaving in droves, the PPP is weaponising the state’s resources to block dissent.”

Mohamed, for his part, has not held back. In a viral video posted shortly after Ali’s national broadcast, the WIN party leader declared:
“Under the current administration, the people of Guyana have been living under HIGH RISK. September dawns a new day. Guyanese would no longer have to settle for comical sunrise tales, but could look forward to a president that addresses real issues. It’s time to remove the Risk.”

Even within his own family, the political crossfire has intensified. The PPP has now spotlighted Mohamed’s uncle, Yusuf Mohamed—brother of Nazar Mohamed—who issued a public statement calling Azruddin’s ambitions “egotistical” and his leadership “unfit.” The move, interpreted by many as a political hit job, is seen as part of a broader strategy by the PPP to fracture Mohamed’s image and sow internal division.

Yet with each day, the narrative appears to be shifting. The crowd sizes, the public anger, the cracks in traditional bases—all suggest that Mohamed’s campaign is far more than a vanity project. It is a national movement gaining speed, despite government attempts to derail it.

As one political observer concluded: “You don’t mobilise 10-day workers, attack from State House, and call in family reinforcements unless you’re worried. And the PPP is very worried.”

With just weeks to go, the ruling party is facing not only a challenger—it’s facing a reckoning.