Handri Piter Poae and Ansel Lumendek (legal counsels) in the preliminary hearing for Case No. 213/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the Manokwari Regency election results dispute. Photo by MKRI/Ifa

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Candidate Pair 01 Bernard Sefnat Boneftar–Eddy Waluyo stated that 153 polling stations were flawed in conducting the 2024 Manokwari Regency election. It was stated in the petition for Case No. 213/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the 2024 Manokwari Regency election results dispute.

The preliminary hearing was presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 1 on Thursday, January 16, 2025. 

In this case, the Manokwari Regency KPU (Elections Commission) was the Respondent, while Candidate Pair 02 Herus Indou–Mugiono became the Relevant Party.

The Petitioners’ legal counsel, Handri Piter Poae stated that 153 polling stations were flawed in terms of the utilization of the voter rights. “With the percentage of 100% participation, it is found that the vote and the counting process were contrary to the provision and procedure, leading [the election] flawed,” said Handri in the preliminary hearing. 

Several problems, the Petitioners explained, were 23,039 double voters, the use of voting rights of deceased people, the use of voting rights of people who were not at the polling station, and the voter attendance list were unsigned. The unsigned attendance list occurred at TPS (polling station) 20, West Manokwari Village, West Manokwari District, TPS 1 Iboisrati Village, Warmare District, TPS 1 Indonbey Village, Warmare District, and TPS 1 Duwin Village, Warmare District. 

In addition, the problem at the TPS was also described by the Petitioners about the reserve ballots that were used entirely, but there was no report. "The use of reserve ballots that reached 100 percent and or even reached 102.5 percent, all of them were marked, without any report," said Handri.

Polling Station Relocation

With regard to the problem in the polling station, the Petitioners mentioned seven polling stations were moved a day before the election, as follows:

• Polling station 16 Sowi, South Manokwari District was moved to the neighborhood unit Head's House;

• Polling station 11 Anday, South Manokwari District, swapped locations with Polling station 12;

• Polling station 10 Anday, South Manokwari District, was moved to the Ayatanoi Family;

• Polling station 15 Sanggeng, West Manokwari District, was moved near Pertamina;

• Polling station 13 Sanggeng, West Manokwari District, was moved to the Baransano Family;

• Polling station 28 West Manokwari, West Manokwari District, was moved to the Kaikatui Family House; and

• Polling station 27 West Manokwari, West Manokwari District, was moved to the Frans Warey Family.

“The Respondent apparently relocated the polling stations that seemed intentional, causing confusion among voters and/or leaving them unaware of the new polling station locations," stated Handri.

The Petitioners also mentioned that in several polling stations, the vote count results of the regency election were more than the gubernatorial election.

Regarding the Relevant Party, the Petitioners revealed the close relationship between the Head of Manokwari Regency KPU with the Relevant Party’s wife.

“The Respondent, the Head of KPU, breaks the principle of neutrality and shows off the close relationship,” asserted Handri.

In the petitum, the Petitioners requested the Court to annul the Manokwari Regency KPU Decree No. 1325 of 2024 concerning the certification of the 2024 Manokwari Regency election results and requested the Court to order the Manokwari KPU to carry out a revote in 153 polling stations within 30 days after the decision.

The petition for Case No. 213/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 can be accessed here.

Author: Ashri Fadilla
Editor: N. Rosi
Translator: Syifa Amelia/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.

 

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