Legal counsels Jaka Iswet and Muhammad Syam Wijaya at the preliminary examination hearing for Case No. 201/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Yapen Islands regent election results dispute, Wednesday (1/15/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) - Yapen Islands independent regent-vice regent candidates Yuhendar Muabai and Yotam Ayomi requested the disqualification of all other candidates in the 2024 Yapen Islands regent election except for themselves. This request was submitted in the petition for Case No. 201/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Yapen Islands regent election results dispute at the preliminary examination hearing on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

The hearing was held in the Constitutional Court’s (MK) main building and presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 1. This case placed the Yapen Islands KPU (Elections Commission) as the Respondent.

At the hearing, legal counsel Muhamad Syam Wijaya delivered the petition on behalf of Yuhendar-Yotam. He stated that all the votes should be transferred to Yuhendar-Yotam so that the other candidate pairs would receive zero votes.

“So, these three candidates should be disqualified? Only one pair of candidates or the Petitioners remain?” Chief Justice Suhartoyo asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Syam replied.

The petition was based on the argument that the Respondent had failed to adhere to Constitutional Court Decision No. 129-01-14-33/PHPU.DPR-DPRD-XXII/2024. The Petitioners contended that this decision must be complied with as a requirement for candidate pairs nominated by political parties.

The Petitioners stated that neglecting the decision has had ongoing consequences. They argued that under such conditions, the candidacy should be disqualified as it does not meet the required number of seats.

“[It is] because the threshold was not properly complied with. The candidacy requirements were ensured during the factual verification, and that is what we are questioning,” he said.

Additionally, the Petitioners alleged other violations by the Respondent, particularly in the implementation of voting at various polling stations. These violations included the distribution of remaining ballots by the head of the polling station working committee (KPPS), which was not conducted in accordance with the established provisions.

Based on these arguments, the Petitioners requested the Court to disqualify other candidate pairs. They also sought the annulment of the Yapen Islands KPU decree on the certification of the 2024 Yapen Islands regent election results.

In response to this petition, the Court requested that the Respondent provide a response and explanation at the next hearing, particularly addressing the arguments related to the Court decision.

“The most essential thing is to respond to Decision (No. 129-01-14-33/PHPU.DPR-DPRD-XXII/2024). [Provide a response on] how the Petitioners could claim that the candidacy is invalid due to the party’s support not aligning with Decision 129,” stated Chief Justice Suhartoyo.

Also read the petition for Case No. 201/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025.

Also read: Welliam R. Manderi Withdraws Petition over Yapen Island Election Result Dispute

Author              : Ashri Fadilla
Editor                : N. Rosi
Translator         : Nazila Rikhusshuba/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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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