Observer: Gus Kikin's election a momentum for internal reconciliation within PBNU
Political observer from Paramadina University, Ahmad Khoirul Umam, has assessed that the election of KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, known as Gus Kikin, as Chairman of the Tanfidziyah of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) for the 2026-2031 period represents a momentum for internal reconciliation as well as for strengthening the khittah of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
According to Ahmad Khoirul, Gus Kikin, together with KH Miftahul Ahyar as Rais Aam of PBNU, was elected democratically and possesses strong legitimacy because the selection process was carried out through the Ahlul Halli Wal Aqdi (AHWA) mechanism while still opening space for the aspirations of the muktamirin.
“As the new captain, Gus Kikin needs to take a number of fundamental steps to consolidate PBNU going forward,” said Khoirul Umam in a written statement in Jakarta on Monday.
He assessed that Gus Kikin possesses several leadership assets, including the historical legitimacy of Tebuireng as a great-grandson of Hadrotusyaikh KH Hasyim Asy’ari, strong acceptance in East Java, a pesantren network, and a relatively managerial and moderate leadership character.
With these assets, Ahmad assessed that Gus Kikin needs to immediately take a number of fundamental steps to consolidate PBNU over the next five years.
First, said Ahmad, internal reconciliation must be the main priority of the new leadership. Groups that supported different choices during the NU Congress need to be embraced and given space proportionally.
“Building a leadership based on a winner-takes-all logic must be avoided,” he said.
According to him, this step is in line with Gus Kikin’s statement that whoever wins must accommodate all parties and maintain harmony.
Second, PBNU needs to restore the balance between Syuriyah and Tanfidziyah. Ahmad said PBNU will be more solid if the authority of the ulama and Syuriyah is positioned as the moral-organisational anchor, while Tanfidziyah concentrates on professional organisational execution. In this way, conflicts of authority and the personalisation of power can be minimised.
Third, Ahmad encouraged PBNU to reduce the pull of practical politics. According to him, NU still has an important role in national politics, but it must be able to distinguish the organisation’s national interests from the electoral interests of individuals or groups.
“This position has in fact already become one of Gus Kikin’s messages ahead of the Congress,” he said.
He encouraged Gus Kikin to conduct a roadshow of silaturahmi to PWNU, PCNU, major pesantren, senior kiai, autonomous bodies, and young NU groups.
“His leadership model must be felt as a PBNU that listens to the regions, not merely giving instructions from the centre,” he said.
Fifth, Ahmad assessed that economic independence needs to become a concrete agenda for the new PBNU leadership. Gus Kikin’s background in business and economics is considered to be a differentiator in developing the economic potential of NU members.
This potential, according to him, can be translated through strengthening cooperatives, MSMEs, productive pesantren, Nahdliyin business networks, vocational education, and expanding access to financing.
“Gus Kikin himself has identified the large number of NU members as a potential economic force,” he said.
Sixth, Ahmad encouraged Gus Kikin to translate the idea of returning to the khittah and Qanun Asasi into modern organisational governance.
He said strengthening the khittah should not stop as a slogan, but should be realised through transparent PBNU governance, clear division of authority, strengthening the organisation’s database, financial accountability, merit-based cadre development, and institutional internal conflict resolution mechanisms.