35th NU Congress Heats Up as Dozens of Students Storm Session Following Ratification of 'Political Iddah' Period
The atmosphere at the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress in Jombang, East Java, turned chaotic on Sunday (30/08/2026) afternoon. Based on observations at the scene, dozens of students forced their way into the main area of the fourth plenary session at the multipurpose building.
The unrest occurred after the session chairs ratified a clause regarding a ‘political iddah’ period during the plenary session held at the Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School multipurpose building in Jombang. Under this provision, anyone wishing to run for the position of General Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) is required to resign from their political party at least one year before their nomination.
This regulation was contested by several Congress participants, who argued that it could hinder the candidacy of a potential chairman known to have previously served in a political party. Around 1:30 pm, a group of supporters for one of the candidates attempted to enter the main arena of the Congress to protest the session chairs’ decision to ratify the clause.
“Change the session chairs, this is unfair. Bring the committee chairman here, we only want a dialogue,” said one student using a megaphone. An orator, claiming to be an NU cadre from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), also demanded a change in the session leadership, claiming the chairs were not acting impartially in presiding over the proceedings.
Previously, the plenary session, led by Professor Muhammad Nuh, ratified the regulations regarding the election mechanism for the PBNU General Chairman. One of the ratified provisions stipulates that any individual seeking the position must have been inactive in political parties for at least one year. This provision faced intense protests from several Congress participants, leading to a temporary suspension of the session.
The session chairs subsequently claimed to have consulted with senior scholars (ulama) before resuming the proceedings. Following discussions, the ‘political iddah’ provision was ultimately ratified.
Responding to the dynamics, a member of the Congress organising committee from the PBNU, Professor Munawar Fuad Noeh, stated that the session chairs had held a special meeting with the founders (muasis) and senior scholars to deliberate. He emphasised that the meeting was not an intervention but rather part of the NU tradition of making decisions through consultation (musyawarah) with scholars.
“The session chairs held a meeting with the founders and scholars specifically for deliberation. It was not an intervention, but rather the NU tradition of the PBNU Syuriah conducting ‘kalimatun sawa’ (consensus). The decision is principled and accommodates aspirations,” said Munawar.
He added that the result of the meeting established a political iddah period of at least one year for NU members who intend to run or be nominated as the PBNU General Chairman. “Ultimately, after various parties met, it was decided that the requirement for a political iddah of at least one year for NU members seeking or being nominated for the PBNU General Chairman position is set at a one-year limit,” he concluded.