The Constitutional Court held a preliminary hearing of a Regent Election Result Dispute by Panel 2 by Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court (chaired) Saldi Isra accompanied by Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani with Case Number 293/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025 attend by Habel Rumbiak (The Petitioner’s legal counsel) on Wednesday (1/15/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh

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JAKARTA, MKRI - Papua Highland Candidate Pair Number 2 Befa Yigibalom and Natan Pahabol (Petitioner) argued that the high vote acquisition of Candidate Pair Number 1 Befa Yigibalom and Natan Pahabol (Relevant Party) was caused by vote manipulation that occurred in three districts. This was stated in the Preliminary Hearing of Dispute of Governor Election Result of Papua Province Highland Case Number 293/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025, in front of Panel of Justice 2, Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (chaired) with Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Habel Rumbiak (The Petitioner’s legal counsel) stated that there are 32 districts in Tolikara Regency of Papua Highland Province did not conduct elections and plenary at the regional election committee (PPD) level, and those who reported the election results unilaterally to the General Election Commission of Papua Highland Province (Respondent) were witnesses of the Relevant Party. Therefore, Habel claimed that the Petitioner's vote in the 32 districts was only 0 votes because all voters' votes were allocated to the Relevant Party.

 “The overall voting results from the 32 districts should be declared invalid, particularly as they appear to have been unanimously and unilaterally in favor of Governor and Deputy Governor Candidate Pair Number 1,” claimed Habel.

Habel also revealed that the community in 4 districts in Yahukimo Regency of Papua Highland Province made an agreement to divide the votes for the two Candidates due to intimidation, mass obstruction, and changes in vote results made at the regional election committee (PPD) and KUP levels in Yakuhimo Regency. As a result, the Petitioner's 14,125 votes were taken or transferred to the Relevant Party.

Later, Habel also revealed that the 74,281 votes of the Petitioner in Lanny Jaya District were transferred by the organizer to the Relevant Party which was then certified by the Respondent. This was caused by community agreement in the villages and districts in Lanny Jaya Regency.

“The votes for Governor and Deputy Governor Candidate Pair Number 1 should have been 36,238 votes,” stated Habel.

The Petitioner requests the Court to annul the Certification of the 2024 Governor Election Results for Papua Highland Province, as stipulated in Respondent's Decision Number 75 of 2024. Additionally, the Petitioner seeks the Court's certification of the Petitioner’s vote count of 614,643 votes and the Relevant Party's vote count of 503,849 votes.

Read Petition: Case Number 293/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025.

Author     : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi.
Editor      : N. Rosi.    
Translators  : Dinta Aktivia/Fuad Subhan (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.

 

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