Gus Yahya Affirms PBNU Is Not Involved In Supporting Presidential Candidates In The 2024 General Election

Chairman of PBNU KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (left) together with Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X (medium) when giving a statement at the Kepatihan Office Complex, Yogyakarta, Monday (29/1/2024). (ANTARA)

YOGYAKARTA - Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board KH Yahya Cholil Staquf or Gus Yahya emphasized that PBNU was not involved in supporting one of the pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2024 General Election.

"PBNU has stated from the start that we are not involved in supporting, as an organization, as an institution that is not involved in supporting," said Gus Yahya after meeting the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X at the Kepatihan Office Complex, Yogyakarta, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, January 29.

Gus Yahya did not deny that some PBNU administrators or NU activists were involved, and even became a successful team for the official campaign participating in the 2024 General Election. However, he ensured that PBNU had imposed an obligation to leave the political management.

"So, PBNU remains in a position not to be involved in supporting. We will try to carry out the role of imitating Ngarsa Dalem Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X to maintain community togetherness," he said.

He also dismissed the assumption that PBNU directed the structural management of the organization to win candidate pair number 2 Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as conveyed by NU scholar Nadirsyah Hosen.

"Rais a'am (PBNU) didn't do anything at all, I didn't. So, if the others are then encouraged by statements made by other parties related to this, then make their respective movements or actions, yes, what can we do? Yes, go ahead, because we will also not hinder as long as we are not on behalf of the institution," he explained.

In addition, Gus Yahya also emphasized that the statement by the Secretary-General of PBNU Saifullah Yusuf or Gus Ipul, who said that Rais a'am and the general chairman moved to win Prabowo-Gibran as a result of Nadirsyah Hosen's words, was not an official directive from PBNU.

"That's a personal direction (Gus Ipul). Even though I personally, if it's to the secretary general, Sami'na wa atho'na (compliance); but that's his personal direction, not officially from PBNU, not on behalf of the organization," said Gus Yahya.

He also invited all NU citizens to express their aspirations. However, he said again, as a PBNU organization still upholds its stance in a neutral position in the 2024 General Election.

"Please, go ahead, everyone can convey their own aspirations. What else do you want to call for? We have announced from the start that organizationally, PBNU is not involved; but personally please," said Gus Yahya.

Previously, Nadirsyah Hosen or Gus Nadir said that the PBNU structurally sided with the candidate pair Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka. In fact, continued Nadir, PBNU never gave directions, except for political mapping with the choice of being handed over by each individual Nahdliyin.

Outspokenly, Gus Nadir said that PBNU structurally received directions to provide support to Prabowo-Gibran. The directive was revealed at a PBNU meeting in Surabaya, East Java.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia has determined three participants in the 2024 presidential election, namely the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD number 3.

The 2024 election campaign period will take place from 28 November 2023 to 10 February. After the campaign period, there was a calm period on 11-13 February. Then, the voting schedule took place simultaneously on February 14, 2024.