The Petitioner and legal counsel were present online at the preliminary hearing of case number 288/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the General Election Results Dispute of the Regent of South Nias Regency, on Wednesday (8/1) in Panel 3 of the Constitutional Court. Photo PR/Bayu

---

JAKARTA, (MKRI) - In their petition, South Nias Regent and Vice Regent Candidate Number 3 Idealisman Dachi-Foluaha Bidaya (Idefol) highlighted the use of fake diplomas by South Nias Regent Candidate Number 1 Sokhiatulo Laia. Idefol is listed as a petitioner in the 2024 South Nias Regent and Deputy Regent Election Result Dispute (PHPU Bup South Nias) with  case number 288/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025.

The Preliminary Hearing was chaired by Panel 1 Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat, accompanied by Constitutional Justices Enny Nurbaningsih and Daniel Yusmic P Foekh. The hearing was held in Panel 3 Court Room, Jakarta, on Wednesday 8, 2025.

"In its petition, the Petitioner, who has not appointed legal representation, alleged that the General Election Commission (KPU) of South Nias Regency, as the Respondent, approved the candidacy of Sokhiatulo Laia-Yusuf Nakhe (Relevant Party) Number 1, despite indications that they submitted a fake diploma as part of the required documents to run in the South Nias Regency Regent Election. The point is that pair 01 as the winner is alleged of using fake diplomas,” said Foluaha.

This [action] violates Article 7 point c of Law Number 6 of 2020 on the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2020 of the Third Amendment to Law Number 1 of 2015 on the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors. “Indonesian citizens who can become candidates for governor, regent, and mayor are those who fulfil the following requirements: c. have a minimum education of senior high school or equivalent.”

This is indicated by the Paket C diploma equivalent to Pekanbaru Public High School, which was used when registering as a member of the Pelalawan Regency DPRD in 2024. The second is the PKBM Bina Edukasi Package C certificate, which was used for his candidacy in the South Nias Regency Pilbup.

Vote Inflation

"For context, the South Nias Regency Regent Election featured four candidate pairs. The leading pair, candidate pair number 1, secured 64,431 votes. In second place was candidate pair number 4, Fajarius Laia and Sifaoita Buulolo, with 31,494 votes. The Petitioner ranked third with 31,208 votes, while candidate pair number 2, Firman Giawa and Robert MZ. Dakhi came in last with 4,771 votes."

The Petitioner also argued that there was vote inflation, so that pair number 4, Fajarius Laia-Sifaoita Buulolo, received 31,494 votes. In fact, according to the Petitioner, the pair won 30,894 votes. “So we are second,” said Foluaha.

In its petition, the Petitioner requested that the Constitutional Court annul the Decision of the Nias Regency KPU Number 3030 of 2024 concerning the Certification of Election of Regent and Deputy Regent 2024, dated December 6, 2024. The petitioner also requested that the Court decide the vote acquisition of candidate pair number 1 to zero, because of disqualification. Meanwhile, the petitioner won 31,208 votes.

“[The Court] Ordering the General Election Commission of South Nias Regency to implement this decision or ordering the Respondent to hold re-election,” said Foulaha.(*)
 

Author : Nawir Arsyad Akbar.
Editor : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translators: Dinita Aktivia / FS (RA)

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

 

---