Gus Yahya Doesn't Mind If The PBNU Muktakmar Is Accelerated

PBNU General Chair Yahya Cholil Staquf gave a press statement at the PBNU building, Jakarta, Thursday (11/12/2025). ANTARA/Asep Firmansyah

JAKARTA - General Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf admitted that he did not mind if the congress was accelerated as stated in accordance with the results of the Pleno Syuriyah meeting at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta, as long as the requirements for the grand deliberation had been met.

"Then regarding the acceleration of the congress, there is no problem. The congress wants to be fast, whether it's slow, there's no problem, but the conditions must be met. That is, the congress is led by Rais Aam and the General Chair," said Gus Yahya, YahyaCholil Staquf's nickname, in Jakarta, Thursday, December 11, reported by ANTARA.

Previously, the results of the Plenary Meeting on Tuesday (9/12) wanted the congress to be held in 2026 or sooner than the initial plan submitted to the Lampung Congress, namely in 2027.

Rais Syuriyah PBNU Muhammad Nuh, who was a representative of Pleno Syuriyah at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta, said the plenary meeting on December 9, 2025, had agreed on accelerated steps to return the NU Congress cycle to its normal schedule before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PBNU congress is the highest forum for the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization which is held every five years to choose new leadership, establish policy directions, and formulate strategic decisions for NU.

The noble Rais Aam has provided several notes. This is not an acceleration of the congress, no. But restore the cycle of the congress as before COVID-19. Because the congress in Lampung was delayed due to the pandemic. Now is a good opportunity to return to normal cycles, "said Prof. Nuh.

Responding to this, Gus Yahya emphasized that the congress must be attended by Rais Aam and the General Chair. If one of them is not present, then the congress cannot be held.

Currently, there is a leadership dualism within PBNU. The Plenary Meeting appointed Zulfa Mustofa as General Chair (Pj), while on the other hand Yahya Cholil Staquf considered the chair of the general chairman still under his authority in a de factadande jure manner.

Therefore, said Gus Yahya, the polemic must be resolved first by sitting together so that the holding of the congress does not encounter problems.

"Yes, let's just get together, then we prepare a congress together. Want to hurry up, come on, want it tomorrow morning, that's it. The important thing is that this congress is true. The main thing is that the congress should not be lame, flawed, less perfect," said Gus Yahya.