The Respondent’s legal counsels Arif Suherman (left) and Alfian Buang Fobelo (right) testifying at the examination hearing of case No. 46/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the 2024 Bolaang Mongondow regent election results dispute, Wednesday (1/22/2025) in panel 3 courtroom. Photo by MKRI/Bayu.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Bolaang Mongondow Elections Commission (KPU) denied allegations of administration violations in approving the candidacy of regent candidate pair 2 Yusra Alhabsyi. Candidate pair 1 Sukron Mamonto-Refly Stenly Ombuh (Petitioners) argued that Yusra had not resigned from his position as a member of the South Sulawesi Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) for the 2019-2024 and 2024-2029 terms.

The Respondent’s legal counsel Arif Suherman delivered the above statement at the hearing for case No. 46/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025. The session was to hear the Respondent’s response, testimonies by the Relevant Party and Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), and to validate evidence. Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat presided over the hearing alongside Constitutional Justices Anwar Usman and Enny Nurbaningsih in panel 3 courtroom on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Arif also stated that Yusra Alhabsyi had resigned from the North Sulawesi DPRD as a member of Crescent Star Party (PBB) on August 27, 2024.

“Afterwards, [the resignation letter] was submitted to the Secretariat of the North Sulawesi DPRD [registered as] T-20 [evidence] on August 28. And Your Honors, on August 28, Yusra registered [as a regent candidate],” explained Arif.

To support the argument, a statement letter dated September 5, 2024 from the North Sulawesi DPRD acting secretary was presented. The Bolaang Mongondow Regency KPU also asked the acting secretary for Yusra Alhabsyi’s resignation. “Lastly, Your Honors, the resignation approval [as a DPRD member] has been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs,” added Arif.

Candidate pair 2 Yusra Alhabsyi-Dony Lumenta (Relevant Party) emphasized that they had submitted all required documents, including Yusra’s resignation letter, to run as a Bolaang Mongondow regent candidate.

The Relevant Party’s legal counsel Irfan Pakaya stated that all chronological events of Yusra Alhabsyi matched the statement by the Bolaang Mongondow Regency KPU. Yusra’s resignation also has been processed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Irfan also denied that Yusra had attended the swearing-in and inauguration ceremony of North Sulawesi DPRD for the 2024-2029 term.

“On August 28, during the candidate registration period, the Relevant Party uploaded the [resignation] notification letter on [the information system for the nomination of regional heads] SILONKADA,” stated Irfan.

The Bolaang Mongondow Regency Bawaslu responded by issuing an advisory letter to the Bolaang Mongondow KPU on September 13, 2024. “All requirements of said candidate had been met, leading to no issues during the candidates’ announcement on September 22,” explained Mokodompit.

To note, Bolaang Mongondow regent candidate pair 1 Sukron Mamonto-Refly Stenly Ombuh (Petitioners) argued that candidate pair 2 Yusra Alhabsyi had committed an administrative violation by not resigning from the 2024–2029 North Sulawesi DPRD. The Petitioners accused the Bolaang Mongondow Regency KPU of failing to perform their duties, particularly regarding the procedure for the announcement of regent-vice regent candidates as stipulated in KPU regulation No. 8 of 2024.

Author               : Nawir Arsyad Akbar
Editor                : Tiara Agustina
Translator         : Ryan Alfian/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL) (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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