35th Congress to Elect New PBNU General Chairman, Gus Ipul Says Several Candidate Names in the Running

JAKARTA - Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Secretary General Saifullah Yusuf, or Gus Ipul, has revealed that the 35th Congress will determine the new General Chairman of the PBNU. In addition, it will also select the Ahlul Halli Wal Aqdi (AHWA), which is tasked with choosing the Rais Aam. “One of them will certainly be the election of the General Chairman, and AHWA, the Ahlul Halli Wal Aqdi, which will select the Rais Aam. It will be like that,” said Gus Ipul when met at the Ministry of Social Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Thursday (7/5/2026). Gus Ipul stated that the mechanism for electing the new PBNU General Chairman will be discussed by the congress participants or muktamirin, including the selection model, which depends on the decision of the muktamirin. Regarding the candidates for the new PBNU General Chairman, Gus Ipul declined to speculate on who the supported candidates might be. “Well, there are several names. Several have already emerged. We’ll just wait. It will become clearer over time. In a month’s time, it will be known, Insha Allah,” he added. The PBNU has set the 35th NU Congress to be held on 1-5 August 2026. Currently, technical preparations are ongoing, including the location of the 35th Congress, which has not yet been decided. “First, before the Congress, there will be the Ulama Scholars’ National Conference and the National Working Conference to be held in June,” he said. According to Saifullah, the results of the National Conference and Working Conference will serve as material for the upcoming 35th Congress.