Ruling hearing of the North Maluku governor and vice governor election results dispute, Thursday (13/12) in the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

The Constitutional Court (MK) approved the final results of the North Maluku Governor and Vice Governor Election Results Dispute, petitioned by Candidate Pair Number 3 Abdul Gani Kasuba and M. Al Yasin Ali, on Thursday (13/12). In the Decision No. 36/PHP.GUB-XVI/2018, the Court determined the final results of the 2018 North Maluku Governor election, namely the votes in the 2018 North Maluku governor and vice governor election results, which were not canceled because a re-election had not been carried out, plus those from the re-election.

"Candidate Pair Number 1 received 175,749 votes, Candidate Pair Number 2 received 139,365 votes, Candidate Pair Number 3 received 176,669 votes, and Candidate Pair Number 4 got 63,902 votes," said Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Anwar Usman, reading out the verdict.

Before issuing the final decision, the Constitutional Court had issued an interlocutory injunction ordering a revote (PSU) in six villages, namely Bobaneigo, Pasir Putih, Tetewang, Gamsungi, Dum-dum, and Akelamo Kao. The Court also ordered a revote in two sub-districts, namely Sana and West Taliabu. The Court stated that there had been inaccuracies in the preparation of the DPT (final voters list) in six villages and violations in the two sub-districts. Regarding the revote on October 17, 2018, the results show that Candidate Pair Number 1 received 12,520 votes, Candidate Pair Number 2 received 367 votes, Candidate Pair Number 3 received 9,291 votes, and Candidate Pair Number 4 received 109 votes.

Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih, when reading the legal considerations of the Constitutional Court, said that the Respondent and the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) had implemented the Constitutional Court\'s ruling properly to implement the revote. Even if there were reports of violations and fraud, it has been followed up well by both so the Court declared the results of the revote valid. "The results of the revote were added up to the votes in places that did not do a revote. Then we get the total votes for each candidate pair," she explained.

Furthermore, in relation to criminal violations by the Petitioners and the Relevant Party, the Constitutional Court considers it the authority of the police. Meanwhile, in relation to the Petitioners\' request to disqualify Candidate Pair Number 1, Justice Enny said that it was the authority of the Respondent and Bawaslu. As for the Petitioners\' allegations of the mobilization of ASN (state civil apparatus) in Morotai Island, the Court declared the argument groundless according to law because Bawaslu had never received such a report from the Petitioners or the public.

"As for the Petitioners\' allegation of structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) money politics, they could not prove it. [Some had been found], but they had been followed up and there has been a court decision. This is unreasonable according to law," said Justice Enny. (Arif Satriantoro/LA)