Ahead of NU's 35th Muktamar, Gus Fahrur Calls for AHWA System to Elect the Chairman

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Ahead of the 35th Muktamar of Nahdlatul Ulama in August 2026, the Chair of the Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board (PBNU), KH Ahmad Fahrur Rozi, urged the adoption of the Ahlul Halli wal ’Aqdi (AHWA) mechanism in electing the organisation’s chairman. According to him, the AHWA system could be a path to delivering a calmer, more dignified, and less polarised election process within Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). The figure known as Gus Fahrur explains that the AHWA idea is not new among Nahdliyin. He says he proposed the mechanism at the NU Muktamar in Jombang, East Java, about a decade ago when representing the East Java NU Regional Leadership. “After lengthy discussions, that forum did not grant approval to implement it directly, while leaving room for further study at the following muktamar,” Gus Fahrur told Republika in Jakarta on Friday (22/5/2026). He said, at the next muktamar in Lampung, the idea did not gain majority support either among the muktamirs. Nevertheless, Gus Fahrur contends that the relevance of the AHWA system has become increasingly important amid the organisation’s dynamics recently. “The need for a election mechanism that is calmer, more dignified, and capable of minimising internal polarisation has become more apparent,” he said.