Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has strongly condemned statements made by newly sworn-in Opposition parliamentarian Azruddin Mohamed, who alleged that the 2025 general elections were rigged, calling the claim “outrageous” and “evidence of lunacy.”
Speaking at his weekly press conference at Freedom House in Georgetown, Jagdeo criticized Mohamed’s assertion to reporters at the ACCC on Monday, where he claimed, “I won the elections.” Mohamed, who is facing U.S. sanctions and has been indicted on several charges related to gold smuggling, tax evasion, and financial crimes, formed the We Invest in Nationhood political movement to contest the September elections.
“Not even APNU made such outrageous claims,” Jagdeo stated, adding that when asked for proof, Mohamed was unable to provide any. He mentioned Mohamed’s assertion that the GECOM website went down for three hours and votes were altered, emphasizing that no other observers, including international monitors or APNU, have made similar allegations. “All Statements of Poll were uploaded the same night,” he noted.
Jagdeo also expressed concern about sections of the media present during Mohamed’s comments, criticizing them for not challenging his claims. “What is appalling is that the media didn’t ask, ‘Are you a madman?’ or ‘Are you a lunatic?’ How can you make such an outrageous claim and repeat it publicly without evidence?” he questioned.
He pointed out that Mohamed’s online supporters, including paid accounts and suspected Venezuelan trolls, lacked credibility in their attempts to defend his claims. “If your boss tells you he won the elections without proof, you have to call it what it is — lunacy,” Jagdeo asserted.
The Vice President alleged that Mohamed’s entry into politics was a calculated strategy to shield himself from impending legal action abroad. “They knew they were under global investigation since the APNU days,” he stated. He indicated that the U.S. sanctions imposed in June 2024 made indictment and extradition inevitable, suggesting that lawyers may have advised Mohamed that entering politics could provide some form of protection. However, he clarified that in Guyana, even the Leader of the Opposition does not have immunity—only the President does.
Jagdeo recounted his own experiences as Opposition Leader, during which he faced questioning and detention by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), emphasizing that Mohamed’s pursuit of the presidency is motivated by self-preservation rather than a genuine desire to serve the public.
Describing Mohamed as “a mediocre mind” obsessed with power, Jagdeo remarked, “He mumbles and strings together words, thinking it will pass as reasoned argument. Claiming he won the presidency without evidence is delusional. This is not politics; it is madness dressed as ambition.”
Jagdeo warned that Mohamed’s obsession with the presidency and attempts to evade justice would ultimately fail, both domestically and internationally. “This is a man using politics to try to protect himself from accountability,” he said. “It is feeble, unhinged, and completely unacceptable in a democratic society.”
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