Gus Rozin Responds to PBNU Chairperson Election Mechanism via AHWA

KH Abdul Ghaffar Rozin, also known as Gus Rozin, a candidate for the Chairperson of the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), respects the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) mechanism for the election of the PBNU Chairperson, as agreed upon during the 35th NU Muktamar. This new mechanism for electing the PBNU Chairperson represents the will of the Muktamirin (congress delegates).

“This is a decision of the Muktamar that we must all respect. I express my appreciation and respect to all delegates who have carried out this process with full responsibility,” said Gus Rozin on Sunday (30/06/2026).

Previously, participants of the 35th NU Muktamar approved a change in the election mechanism for the PBNU Chairperson, moving from a ‘one man, one vote’ system to the AHWA mechanism. This decision was reached through a vote after discussions within the Organisational Commission failed to reach an agreement regarding the election process.

Gus Rozin believes that the decision must be respected as part of the dynamics and the tradition of deliberation (musyawarah) that is evolving within NU. According to him, the change in the election mechanism should not merely be viewed from a technical aspect, but also through the deliberative process that produced the decision.

He stated that democracy within the NU tradition is not only defined through direct elections, but also through deliberation, consensus, and respect for the decisions of the organisation’s highest forum. “For me, the most important thing is how we accept this decision together and subsequently implement it with full responsibility,” he said.

Gus Rozin noted that the agreed mechanism still provides space for Muktamar participants to be involved in the screening of PBNU Chairperson candidates. Under this mechanism, Muktamar participants vote to select a maximum of five candidates who meet the necessary requirements.

The five names with the highest number of votes will then be established as candidates for the PBNU Chairperson, to be subsequently selected via the AHWA mechanism. “Branches and regional levels still have the authority to help determine the five names. Therefore, in my view, this does not undermine democratic values. There is a mechanism of representation and deliberation that continues to function,” said Gus Rozin.