Gus Kikin Hints at Readiness to Run for PBNU Chairmanship by Referencing Basic Law Ahead of 35th NU Congress

The caretaker of the Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java, KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin), responded to plans for the 35th NU Congress. According to him, the 35th congress must be a momentum to return NU to the Qanun Asasi (basic regulations). “NU must be returned to the Qanun Asasi, follow the existing rules (articles of association/bylaws). NU is a harokah, NU is a movement; the founders taught ukhuwah, unity, solidarity, and set a good example,” he said in a statement received in Jombang on Sunday (19/4/2026). Regarding the 2026 NU Congress planned for early August, Gus Kikin affirmed his readiness to carry out the mandate as PBNU general chairman if given the mandate. However, he refused to be said to be asking to be elected, because he is indeed not asking. Only if given the mandate, he will carry it out. “If I am pushed, then I will go ahead; after all, running is an obligation, so be it. If no one pushes, that’s fine, because the important thing is that I am not asking. It’s also important not to push by allowing all means; I don’t want that,” he said. He stated that NU is a community organisation that upholds ukhuwah or unity. Therefore, he hopes NU sets a good example for the community. Gus Kikin also stated that returning to the Qanun Asasi is ideal, because NU will be strong if there is ukhuwah, solidarity, and it sets a good example. According to him, with such a foundation in NU’s body, NU will be able to move society as it did in the past, because there are no personal interests, but the interests of the nation and state. He added that the NU leaders from the founder/pioneer generation also established NU in response to the global situation because the King of Saudi Arabia at that time imposed the Wahabi school on hajj pilgrims and also planned to destroy historical sites such as the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad. In response to this, Indonesian ulama formed the Hijaz Committee to send a delegation there. He revealed that during the Hijaz Committee meeting in Kertopaten, Surabaya, the need for an official organisation to send a delegation to the King of Saudi Arabia was discussed, so it was agreed to name it Jam’iyah Nahdlatul Ulama. “The members of the jam’iyah also included those from Egypt and India residing in Surabaya. So, NU has long been global in nature from its stance/purpose and members. NU is not just thought, but a movement, which is why there is the Qanun Asasi,” said the chairman of PWNU East Java.