NU 2026 Congress, Gus Irfan Assures No Intervention by President Prabowo

SURABAYA - Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto will not interfere in the election process for leadership in the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress.

"Mr. Prabowo actually respects the independence of Nahdlatul Ulama. He will not interfere in determining who will lead. If someone claims to be supported by the President, it is not true. His only hope is that the best leader will be elected for NU's progress," said Irfan, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, July 1.

The man who is familiarly called Gus Irfan said that the NU Congress must take place in a cool atmosphere and uphold the basic values of the organization that were inherited by the founders of NU.

"I hope that the Muktamar will take place in a cool way, describing what Nahdlatul Ulama really is and what the ulama are," he said.

The grandson of KH Hasyim Asy'ari emphasized that the NU Congress should not take place like a political party congress which is marked by fierce competition for positions.

"That is not the hallmark of NU. We must look back to the kiai predecessors of NU. They actually refused to be elected because they realized that this was a responsibility that must be accounted for in this world and the hereafter," he said.

According to him, NU leaders need to return to the values of the Basic Law taught by Hadratussyaikh KH Hasyim Asy'ari.

Gus Irfan hopes that the NU Congress will be a momentum to strengthen the tradition of sincerity, unity, and independence of the organization.

"This time the muktamar must be a moment of sincerity, without money politics and without the interference of outside political interests. To those parties who have been considered to cause commotion, it is better to be sincere and give opportunities to those who are more worthy. It is enough to help from outside so that NU remains a shady organization and beneficial to the community," he said.

Data from ANTARA's search shows that the General Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) has officially agreed that the 35th NU Congress is planned to be held on August 1-5, 2026.

This decision has been matured again in the National Consultative Forum (Munas) of Alim Ulama and the NU Grand Conference (Konbes) which has just been held in Ploso, Kediri at the end of June.

All discussions of material, commissions, and important decisions (including cyber fiqh and haj governance which had been hotly debated) had been discussed at the Munas-Konbes to be immediately brought to the Muktamar arena.

Regarding the location, by the end of June, PBNU is still conducting final studies and reviews of several areas that have applied to host, including East Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and West Sumatra.

The main agenda, besides discussing the strategic direction of the organization entering the second century of NU, the 35th Muktamar has the main agenda of electing the new NU General Chair as well as determining the members of Ahlul Halli Wal Aqdi (AHWA) to choose Rais Aam.