Gus Ipul Discusses Potential Candidates for PBNU General Chairman Position Ahead of Congress, Who Are They?

One of those with potential, if we’re talking about it, is someone with potential because Pak Nasaruddin Umar was previously General Secretary, Gus Yahya was also previously General Secretary, and Kiai Said, if I’m not mistaken, was also previously General Secretary,” said Gus Ipul at the KPK Building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday (8/5/2026).

“So all of them actually have potential, they have potential; it just depends on whether they are willing or not,” he added.

However, no specific candidates have been confirmed yet. Gus Ipul stated that the opportunity to run for PBNU General Chairman is open.

“There are no specific candidates yet, but everyone is given the opportunity, everyone is given the opportunity to run, especially since Nahdlatul Ulama is so large,” he said.

The PBNU Congress itself, he continued, is being prepared thoroughly before its implementation in August. In June, he said, there will be a Scholars’ Conference.

“Our preparations are all heading towards that, all preparations heading towards that. And insyaallah, it will be according to schedule; we hope that the regions and branches will have proposals that can be discussed further,” he stated.

It is known that PBNU has officially decided that the 35th Congress will be held from 1-5 August 2026. Meanwhile, the Scholars’ Conference and Major Conference to prepare materials to be brought to the congress will be held in June.

“The NU Congress insyaallah will be held from 1 to 5 August 2026,” said PBNU General Secretary Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) in his statement on Thursday (7/5).

The decision on the congress location has not yet been finalised. Gus Ipul explained that several regions have proposed to host it, such as NTB, West Sumatra, and East Java. However, all proposals are still being deliberated to reach the best decision.

Meanwhile, matters related to the organising committee have been fully arranged and submitted to Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar and PBNU General Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf. Thus, it is just waiting for the issuance of the decree.

Then, the materials to be brought to the congress arena will be deliberated in the Scholars’ Conference and Major Conference forums. “The results from the Scholars’ Conference and Major Conference will be used as materials in the congress,” he explained.