NU Congress Decides on Voting for PBNU Chairman Election

Voting has been decided as the mechanism for electing the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU). The decision was made during Plenary Session III of the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress in Jombang, East Java.

“We have agreed, we have agreed to vote, no need to worry, God willing it will work out,” said Plenary Session III Chair and Secretary of the 35th NU Congress Steering Committee, Professor Mohammad Nuh, in Jombang on Saturday (29/8).

He said the forum still prioritised deliberation and consensus, but had prepared voting should agreement not be reached. Voting was decided for the PBNU Chairman election after discussions on the election mechanism failed to reach agreement in the Organisational Commission Session and again reached a deadlock when discussions continued in Plenary Session III at Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School, Tambakberas, Jombang.

The Organisational Commission Session held earlier produced two options for the PBNU Chairman election mechanism, but no common ground was found.

The first option was direct election using a one-man-one-vote system, still accompanied by the approval of the elected Rais Aam. The second option was a nomination mechanism through Nahdlatul Ulama Branch Chapters (PCNU) and Regional Chapters (PWNU). The names of PBNU Chairman candidates would then be tabulated and submitted to Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) to select the candidate deemed fit to lead NU.

Organisational Commission Session Chair Professor Asrorun Niam said the candidacy requirements for PBNU Chairman had been agreed to be made more flexible as long as they still met the core requirements stipulated in the NU Articles of Association and Bylaws (AD/ART).

PBNU Deputy Chairman K.H. Zulfa Mustofa delivered a joint statement of position with four other candidates, namely K.H. Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin), K.H. Abdul Ghaffar Rozin (Gus Rozin), K.H. Yusuf Chudlori (Gus Yusuf), and K.H. Abdussalam Shohib (Gus Salam), who agreed on the election of the PBNU Chairman through AHWA.

“We agree that the chairman election be conducted by Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi,” said Zulfa. The statement caused dynamics in the session. The session was then adjourned by Professor Mohammad Nuh.

Meanwhile, the PBNU Chairman election will be held tonight (29/8) using a representative voting mechanism represented by each PCNU, PWNU, and Special Branch Chapter (PCINU) chair.