Procedural Violations in Central Jakarta NU Conference Spark Calls for Evaluation

The implementation of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Branch Conference (Konfercab) for Central Jakarta has sparked a wave of protests and disappointment from participants. The highest consultative forum at the branch level is alleged to have been procedurally flawed, as it allowed the participation of several Branch Representative Councils (MWC) whose validity period of their Decrees (SK) had expired, while also ignoring the legitimacy of participation mandates. In response to various alleged irregularities suspected of violating the organisation’s constitution and bylaws (AD/ART) and Association Regulations (Perkum), several MWC NU leaders in Central Jakarta officially issued a joint statement of stance. The statement was supported directly by Alit, Chairman of MWC NU Tanah Abang, along with other leaders including Masrukhin, Chairman of MWC NU Cempaka Putih; KH Thoyib, Rais of MWC NU Kemayoran; Achmad Chebe, Rais of MWC NU Gambir; and Haikaludin, Katib of MWC NU Senen; as well as A. Ikhsan, Chairman of MWC NU Sawah Besar. According to Alit, the conference proceedings appeared forced and were steered by certain parties, causing the forum to lose its independence as a legitimate consultative body. He stressed that NU’s strength lies in adherence to its constitution and bylaws, its dignity in honesty, and its power in consultation. Any process suspected of ignoring organisational rules risks causing division, reducing the trust of Nahdliyin members, and tarnishing the organisation’s honour. The leaders highlighted several critical violations, including the committee’s disregard for the validity of branch management decrees and the inconsistency in verifying the mandates of conference participants, which require the signatures of four key officials. They also pointed to maladministration in the election of the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA), where candidacy documents were allegedly processed without the required signatures from the Rais and Katib. Furthermore, participants reported an intimidating atmosphere during the proceedings, led by the caretaker chairman, which stifled criticism and restricted the rights of members to voice objections. In response to these alleged procedural breaches, the MWC NU leaders are urging higher-level NU officials to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to ensure the conference’s decisions hold legal legitimacy and uphold organisational justice and unity. The internal dynamics within the Jakarta branch come amid broader national attention on the NU leadership, as the organisation prepares for its 35th Congress, with uncertainty over the host location seen by some as a political manoeuvre ahead of the succession contest in August 2026.