Insantara Reveals 14 Potential Candidates for PBNU Chairman Ahead of 35th Congress

Jakarta, VIVA – The PBNU’s decision to hold the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama Congress in July or August 2026 carries great strategic significance, coinciding with the milestone of the world’s largest religious organisation entering its second century.

The dynamics surrounding the change of PBNU leadership are intensifying. In response to this strategic moment, the Institut Nahdliyin Nusantara (Insantara) has disclosed a list of 14 figures with strong prospects of leading the PBNU following the 35th NU Congress.

Insantara researcher Wildan Efendy explained that the candidates were identified based on three key aspects: popularity levels, track records and candidate sourcing pathways, and the results of in-depth interviews with NU officials and community members.

Wildan also highlighted that this leadership transition carries a significant responsibility for improving organisational governance. The high level of aspiration from regional boards, branch offices, and cultural members serves as a primary indicator of the desire for new leadership.

“The very strong push for a PBNU leadership transition from provincial boards (PWNU), branch boards (PCNU), and NU community aspirations is one of the key indicators of the great desire for new leadership within the PBNU. We must maintain this awareness through to the 35th Congress, so that a new PBNU leadership emerges that is better, has greater integrity, and is suited to the times in NU’s second century,” Wildan said in a statement on Monday, 23 February 2026.

Insantara also uncovered rather surprising data regarding the election mechanism. Findings showed that 90 per cent of NU elements favour the full application of the Ahwa system for both the Syuriyah (Rais Aam) and Tanfidziyah (General Chairman) positions at the forthcoming Congress.

This PBNU leadership change is not merely a managerial routine but rather a crucial turning point for Nahdlatul Ulama in navigating more progressive and integrity-driven community governance in its second century.

The following is the distribution of the 14 potential candidates:

1. PBNU Cluster: Prof. KH Nuh DEA, KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, KH Syaifullah Yusuf, and KH Zulfa Mustofa.
2. PWNU Cluster: KH Abd Ghaffar Rozin, KH Abd Hakim Mahfudz, and KH Juhadi Muhammad.
3. NU Figures and Pesantren Cluster: KH Imam Jazuli, KH Abdussalam Shohib, KH Yusuf Chudlori, and KH Marzuqi Mustamar.
4. Politics and Government Cluster: H Muhaimin Iskandar, H Nusron Wahid, and Prof. KH Nasaruddin Umar.