Azruddin Mohamed, widely believed to be the presumptive Leader of the Opposition, has criticised a parliamentary decision to allow only the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) to cover the upcoming election of the Leader of the Opposition, calling the move biased and contrary to transparency, fairness, and press freedom.
In a statement released Saturday, Mohamed said the exclusion of independent media from the proceedings in the National Assembly undermines open governance and restricts public access to information on a matter of national interest.
“The decision to allow only the state‑owned National Communications Network (NCN) at the Opposition Leader’s election demonstrates a bias and is contrary to transparency, fairness, and press freedom in Guyana,” Mohamed said, maintaining that unequal treatment and state control over coverage of “parliamentary proceedings of national importance” must be addressed.
He called on parliamentary authorities to review and rescind the restriction without delay and to allow “all accredited media houses” to cover the election process. “No single state‑owned media house is the sole gatekeeper of information,” he said.
Mohamed added that the election of the Leader of the Opposition — scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before the reading of the 2026 Budget — should be conducted in “an open and transparent manner, free from any appearance of political favoritism or media restrictions.”
The National Assembly’s Clerk Sherlock Isaacs confirmed that only NCN will be permitted inside the parliamentary chamber for Monday’s session, and that its feed will be shared with other outlets. Critics, including the Guyana Press Association (GPA), have questioned the criteria for restricting independent media access and sought clarity on whether similar limitations will extend to budget debates later in the day. Independent outlets have traditionally not been invited into some parliamentary meetings, but the decision to limit coverage for the Leader of the Opposition vote has drawn fresh scrutiny.
The controversy comes amid longstanding concerns over state media bias in Guyana. The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the 2025 General and Regional Elections found that state-run media, specifically Voice of Guyana radio and NCN TV, heavily favored the PPP/C party, with up to 92% of election-related coverage in the ruling party’s favour, including unlabeled promotional clips. Key findings of the EU EOM report highlighted:
The disproportionate airtime given to the PPP/C compared to opposition parties.
The use of state media for implicit promotion of government policies and political messaging.
Lack of editorial independence, undermining pluralistic coverage of elections.
The EU EOM concluded that these practices contributed to an uneven playing field, raising concerns over transparency, impartiality, and equitable access to information.
Mohamed’s statement was tagged for distribution to several international diplomatic and civil society entities, including the U.S. Embassy in Guyana, the British High Commission in Georgetown, the High Commission of Canada to Guyana and Suriname, the United Nations Human Rights Delegation, the European Union Delegation in Guyana, and Transparency International.
The controversy comes after months of public pressure to proceed with the election of the Leader of the Opposition following the 2025 general elections, in which Mohamed’s We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party emerged as the largest opposition bloc with 16 seats, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) one. Earlier delays in convening the vote drew criticism from opposition parties and civil society with some accusing the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic and parliamentary leadership of stalling the process.
Mohamed’s formal objection to the media restriction adds a new dimension to the debate over transparency and inclusivity in parliamentary processes as Guyana’s political actors prepare for Monday’s vote.
