HGP Nightly News – A planned meeting between the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, and the three opposition-nominated members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will proceed under explicitly defined parameters, highlighting a deepening institutional and political standoff.
Commissioners Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin, and Desmond Trotman have agreed in principle to engage with Mr. Mohamed but have formally precluded any discussion regarding their resignation from the Commission. In a joint letter dated January 31, 2026, the Commissioners stated they are prepared to deliberate on all matters pertaining to GECOM’s functions, except their tenure, which they describe as a matter “that can only be addressed through legislative or judicial action.”
The correspondence represents a direct response to public calls from Mr. Mohamed and his party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), for the Commissioners to vacate their posts. The Commissioners noted that these public appeals have, in their view, “removed any basis for discussions about our future on the Commission.” They further stipulated that any meeting should be convened at a neutral and mutually agreed location.
Mr. Mohamed has acknowledged receipt of the letter and confirmed his intention to meet with the Commissioners at a rescheduled time, having received the communication too late to attend a proposed Sunday meeting. When questioned on the potential for legal recourse, the Opposition Leader indicated a preference for initial dialogue.
This impasse stems from a fundamental disagreement concerning the representative legitimacy of GECOM’s opposition nominees following the September 2025 General and Regional Elections. WIN, now holding 16 seats as the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, contends that the Commission’s composition should reflect the current parliamentary opposition. The incumbent opposition-nominated Commissioners were appointed under the previous configuration of the opposition, led by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
APNU leadership has countered this position, asserting that GECOM is a permanent constitutional body whose commissioners are not subject to removal due to shifts in parliamentary representation without due legal process. APNU has also raised questions regarding WIN’s singular focus on the opposition-nominated commissioners, while not similarly challenging the position of the Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh.
The outcome of the forthcoming meeting is being closely watched, as it touches upon core principles of electoral governance, constitutional interpretation, and political transition in Guyana.
