The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party has issued a strong condemnation of Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir over remarks made during his national address on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, accusing him of acting with bias, disrespecting international diplomats, and abusing his constitutional office.
In a public release, WIN denounced what it described as “disparaging, abusive, defamatory, false, and malicious statements” aimed at WIN Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who is widely regarded as the presumptive Leader of the Opposition based on his party’s majority within the opposition benches. WIN holds 16 of the 29 opposition seats in the 65-member National Assembly, followed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) with one seat. The governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) controls 33 seats.
WIN said the Speaker’s conduct followed months of delay in convening Parliament and electing a Leader of the Opposition, arguing that the inaction was deliberate and unconstitutional. “For nearly three months, the Guyanese people were deliberately made to wait for the election of a Leader of the Opposition,” the party stated, noting that Parliament itself had earlier remained inactive for four months.
According to WIN, the Speaker only acted after sustained pressure from civil society, international partners, and public protest. The party said it was therefore “reckless and disgraceful” for the Speaker to subsequently ridicule diplomats from the United States and Canada who had called for adherence to Guyana’s Constitution.
The party also objected to the Speaker’s remarks about Mohamed, saying they amounted to a personal attack on an elected Member of Parliament and revealed a lack of impartiality. “The Speaker is not a prosecutor, a political combatant, or a mouthpiece for the ruling party,” WIN said, adding that his conduct had “demeaned the National Assembly and further eroded public confidence.”
WIN’s statement comes amid escalating political debate following comments by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who on Tuesday night reiterated the PPP/C’s opposition to Mohamed’s potential elevation to the post. Speaking on his weekly programme Issues in the News, Nandlall described the prospect of a U.S.-sanctioned and indicted individual becoming Leader of the Opposition as making history for the “wrong reasons.”
“It is an indictment on our country… for an OFAC-sanctioned person and a fugitive offender… to maybe be the Leader of the Opposition of our country… We are making history for all the wrong reasons,” Nandlall said, warning that those who support Mohamed “will be judged.”
WIN rejected the government’s position, arguing that democracy should not require diplomatic pressure to function and that constitutional processes must be respected regardless of political discomfort. “Democracy in Guyana should never require diplomatic pressure to function,” the party said.
Following public pressure and a protest staged by WIN on Tuesday night, Speaker Nadir announced that the election of the Leader of the Opposition will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., prior to the presentation of the 2026 National Budget, which is scheduled for the same day.
WIN said it views January 26 as a turning point. “After months of delay and deliberate obstruction, the democratic process will finally move forward,” the party said, adding that it looks forward to restoring constitutional order and advancing a Parliament that serves all Guyanese.
