Azruddin Mohamed voted in as Opposition Leader

We Invest in Nationhood leader Azruddin Mohamed was on Monday officially voted in as Opposition Leader, months after the 2025 General and Regional Elections results were declared.
The vote comes as Mohamed faces US sanctions and ongoing extradition cases, adding a layer of controversy to his appointment.

The vote unfolded amid visible tension, concerns over media access, and questions surrounding opposition unity.
Speaking briefly to reporters before entering Parliament, Mohamed questioned the decision, presumably from the Speaker, not to permit other media houses to cover the swearing-in from inside the chamber, describing the restriction as “a knock at democracy.”
Outside the Parliament Buildings compound, supporters gathered as Mohamed arrived, chanting in his support. Following the vote, cheers of “We did it” erupted among supporters. Mohamed’s father, who stood on the sidelines, said his son “deserves this.”
Opposition MP Amanza Walton-Desir also raised concerns about media access, saying she was uncomfortable with NCN being the only entity allowed to cover the proceedings from inside Parliament. She claimed NCN is known to “cut” feeds and called on the media fraternity and press associations to speak out on the matter.
Meanwhile, APNU Leader in the House Dr Terrence Campbell and Members of Parliament of his team left Parliament earlier than expected. Dr Campbell said that since there had been what he described as a unilateral nomination for Opposition Leader, there was no reason to prolong the process. He expressed hope for smooth collaboration with the WIN team.
When questioned about nominations to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dr Campbell suggested that the matter was constitutional in nature and not directly linked to the day’s proceedings. Asked why he later returned to re-enter the Parliament compound, he said he had the “privilege” of parking inside before declining to answer further questions.

Following the vote, Mohamed addressed supporters, acknowledging both critics and supporters.
“To all my haters and my supporters, we had a long fight — we made it to the end,” Mohamed said.
He also referenced restrictions during the campaign period, stating that he was unable to visit several Indigenous communities, including Region Nine.
Mohamed also thanked Walton-Desir for using her nomination in support of his election and said he would ensure that she is included in parliamentary committee work. He further stated that he is prepared to work with the APNU, despite the party leaving earlier discussions prematurely, once it is in the interest of the people.

In comments that reference ongoing legal and political scrutiny, Mohamed said the PPP would not have had issues with him if he had not opposed them, highlighting the political tension surrounding his role.
Looking ahead, Mohamed said he hopes the national budget will primarily serve citizens and claims that corruption is a concern under the current administration. Addressing concerns about investor confidence in the oil sector, he said investors should not be worried, adding that there would be no victimisation and that both local and wealthy investors would be secure.