New PBNU Chairman Election Confirmed to Use AHWA Method

The election of the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) for 2026-2031 will officially be conducted using the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) mechanism. This means the tanfidziyah leadership of NU will be selected or appointed by a council comprising nine kiai khos or senior clerics.

The decision to use the AHWA method resulted from a vote involving 557 PWNU, PCNU and PCINU branches holding valid voting rights at the 35th Congress held at Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Tambakberas, Jombang, East Java, during a plenary session on Sunday evening (29/8).

During the vote, the session leadership initially offered two options. The first was to retain the existing system of deliberation for consensus or voting. The second was a change to adopt the AHWA system.

To decide which method would be used, the plenary session proceeded at length. Ultimately, the method for electing the PBNU Chairman had to be determined through a ballot.

After the voting was completed, PBNU Rais Syuriah and Secretary of the 35th NU Congress Steering Committee, Mohammad Nuh, announced the results before the session participants. He stated that the total number of ballots received was 552, in accordance with the data on valid voting rights holders at the 35th NU Congress.

“The 552 is consistent with the data received. Option A, to retain, received 150. Option B, for change, received 401. The invalid vote, which was opened earlier, was one. So the total is exact,” said Professor Nuh in the early hours of Monday (30/8).

The breakdown showed the change option, or AHWA mechanism, secured a majority with 401 votes, far ahead of the deliberation and voting option with 150 votes. One other vote was declared invalid.

Nuh emphasised that the result of the vote was a collective decision that must be accepted by all congress participants.

“Therefore, with all due respect, this is the reality that we must accept,” he said.

He then formally established the change option as the new mechanism for electing the PBNU Chairman to be used at the congress.

“Therefore, with the words Bismillahirrahmanirrahim and Alhamdulillahi rabbil ’alamin, we have decided on the election option, namely the change option,” he said, followed by the striking of the session gavel.

The decision was followed by the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah as an expression of gratitude for the completion of the discussion on the election mechanism.

Nuh revealed that the decision was made in the early hours, precisely at 00:39 WIB. He then invited session participants to consider their physical condition before deciding on the continuation of the session.

“It is now 00:39 WIB. Therefore, I think we should respect that among ourselves we have limitations and should not overdo it. Should we vote on whether to continue or adjourn?” he said, greeted by a lively response from session participants.

As session chair, Nuh ultimately decided to adjourn the session and resume it the following morning.

“I think, with all due respect, as session chair, we shall adjourn. We will continue, God willing, tomorrow morning at 08:00 WIB,” he said before closing the session with the strike of the gavel.

With the change option now established, the mechanism for electing the PBNU Chairman at the 35th Congress is confirmed to adopt the AHWA method, as has been customary in the process of electing the PBNU Rais Aam at previous congresses.

The process begins with the collection of proposals from PWNU, PCNU and PCINU branches, which are asked to submit five candidate names. The top five names are then submitted to the AHWA forum for the final determination.

Previously, the session chair of the Organisational Commission of the 35th NU Congress and PBNU Katib Syuriah, KH M Asrorun Niam, said that the method for electing the PBNU Chairman would be handed to the AHWA mechanism, beginning first with the collection of proposals by congress participants. Each participant is asked to submit up to five eligible candidates for chairman.

“Secondly, participants select up to five eligible candidates. So whereas previously they selected one, now they select five,” said Niam.

From the results of the vote or proposals, Niam said, the top five candidate names would be taken and then submitted to the AHWA.

“The results of the selection as referred to in paragraph 3 shall be taken as the top five to become candidates for Chairman and submitted to the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi,” he said.

Niam added that candidates who have made the top five will only be selected by the AHWA after they have conveyed their willingness orally or in writing, and obtained written approval from the elected Rais Aam.

“Finally, the candidate for Chairman as referred to in paragraph 4 shall be selected by the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi after conveying willingness orally or in writing and obtaining written approval from the elected Rais Aam,” he said.