NU Congress approves change to PBNU chairman election mechanism

Participants of the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress have approved a change to the election mechanism for the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), moving from a one-man-one-vote system to the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) mechanism.

The decision was taken through a vote after discussions in the Organisational Commission failed to reach a consensus on the PBNU chairman election mechanism.

“From the vote, 401 approved the change to the chairman election mechanism, 150 wished to retain the existing system, and one vote was invalid,” said Prof. Dr. Ir. Mohammad Nuh, Secretary of the Steering Committee of the 35th NU Congress, in Jombang, East Java, in the early hours of Sunday.

He said that with this result, discussions would continue on Sunday morning to finalise the technical provisions for the PBNU chairman election mechanism. After that, the election stages will begin with the tabulation of AHWA candidates.

Furthermore, he said the tabulation results would serve as the basis for the AHWA to deliberate and determine the PBNU Rais Aam. The appointment of the Rais Aam is one of the important stages before the PBNU chairman election process continues.

He said that candidates for PBNU chairman to be discussed by the AHWA must first obtain written approval from the elected Rais Aam.

Under the draft mechanism that has been discussed, each PWNU, PCNU, and PCINU may propose a maximum of five candidates for PBNU chairman. All proposed names are then collected and tabulated to obtain the five names with the most support.

The five names with the most support are then submitted to the elected Rais Aam for approval. Candidates who receive approval are then discussed by the AHWA to determine the PBNU chairman.

“They must obtain written approval from the Rais Aam. So, the Rais Aam must be determined first. Hopefully, on Sunday, everything can be resolved at the congress,” he said.

Regarding the technical provisions for the mechanism, Prof. Nuh said they would still be determined in the session of the 35th NU Congress on Sunday morning.

The committee hopes that the entire series of the 35th NU Congress, held from 27 to 31 August 2026, including the election and the establishment of the board, can be completed on the same day.