Addressing Allegations of Becoming a 'Political Tool', Newly Elected PBNU Chairman Gus Kikin Responds

The Chairman of the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) for the 202<0xC2>6-2031 period, KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, also known as Gus Kikin, has responded to allegations suggesting he could potentially become a ‘political puppet’ following his election to lead PBNU. He asserted that NU is fundamentally a religious and social organisation.

“Indeed, we must return to the fact that we are a religious and social organisation. Therefore, we utilise the fundamentals of religion,” stated Gus Kikin after being elected as the PBNU Chairman during the 35th NU Muktamar at the Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School, Tambakberas, Jombang, East Java, on Monday morning (31/8/2026).

Gus Kikin also emphasised that NU possesses organisational principles and guidelines that serve as a compass for managing the organisation. Consequently, he requested that the direction of PBNU’s leadership remains anchored in the ‘manhaj’ (methodology) of NU.

“We affirm that we have a track, we have a compass, and we have a manhaj,” he said.

According to him, this manhaj is enshrined in the Qanun Asasi NU (the fundamental principles of NU). This guideline, Gus Kikin noted, must be implemented throughout the PBNU leadership period for 2026-2031. “It is documented in that book; therefore, that manhaj must be followed,” he concluded.