The KPU’s (Respondent) legal counsel Hakmianto testifying for Case No. 97/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 on the Kendari mayoral election results dispute, Friday (1/24/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) - The Constitutional Court (MK) held an examination hearing on the 2024 Kendari mayoral election results dispute on Friday, January 24, 2025, presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 1. This hearing for Case No. 97/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 was held to hear testimonies from the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body).

The Kendari KPU (Elections Commission) as the Respondent, represented by legal counsel Hakmianto, addressed the alleged violations in the election brought forward by Candidate Pair 05 Abdul Rasak and Afdhal (Petitioners). The Respondent clarified that the campaign schedule, as regulated by KPU Regulation No. 13 of 2024 on campaigns, was well within the stipulated period, from September 25 to November 23, 2024.

Subsequently, the Respondent issued Decree No. 377 of 2024 on the certification of the schedule and locations for the general meeting campaigns in the 2024 mayoral election, including the zoning arrangements for campaign locations. The Respondent received a notification letter from Candidate Pair 01 Sisak Karina Imran–Sudirman regarding their intent to hold a limited campaign on November 19, 2024 at the Torada soccer field in Puuwatu District.

The Respondent halted the limited campaign based on a joint agreement signed by the KPU chairperson, members of the KPU, members of Kendari Bawaslu, and the liaison officer of Candidate Pair 01. The decision was made because the campaign had exceeded the maximum attendance limit stipulated in Article 33 paragraph (3) of KPU Regulation No. 13 on campaigns. “Following the joint agreement, the limited campaign was immediately disbanded in coordination with the campaign team and volunteer team. The campaign was attended by more than 1,000 people,” stated the Respondent.

Cards for MSME

Meanwhile, Andri Darmawan, the legal counsel for Candidate Pair 01 Siska Karina Imran–Sudirman (Relevant Party), argued that the distribution of UMKM Maju cards to the MSMEs was part of the pair’s vision and mission. He asserted that the cards could not be directly converted into money.

“Therefore, the Relevant Party’s [MSME] program, implemented through the distribution of the UMKM Maju cards, cannot be categorized as an act of promising or providing money or materials intended to influence election organizers and/or voters,” he clarified.

The Kendari Bawaslu’s representative La Ode Nur Iman reported that two special incidents had occurred at 525 polling stations in Kendari. “According to Bawaslu’s supervision report, the Respondent has conducted revotes at the affected polling stations,” he stated.

Also read: ‘Dawn Attacks’ and Other Alleged Violations in Kendari Mayoral Election

At the previous hearing, the Petitioners requested the annulment of the Kendari KPU Decree No. 541 of 2024 on the certification of the mayoral election results. They mentioned the vote acquisition as follows: Candidate Pair 01 Siska Karina Imran–Sudirman obtains 61.831 votes, Candidate Pair 02 Yudhianto Mahardika Anton Timbang–Nirna Lachmuddin 41,044 votes, Candidate Pair 03 Sitya Giona Nur Alam–Subhan 19.419 votes, Candidate Pair 04 Aksan Jaya Putra–Andi Sulolipu 13,815 votes, and Candidate Pair 05 (Petitioners) 51,598 votes.

The Petitioners raised concerns about alleged violations by Candidate Pair 01 (Relevant Party), including the use of the National Mandate Party’s (PAN) logo as a campaign tool, which the Petitioners claimed had impacted their vote acquisition. The issue was reported to Bawaslu, but the Relevant Party allegedly ignored the recommendation. Additionally, the Petitioners reported a violation involving the distribution of cards with money, further asserting that these actions influenced the election results.

Therefore, the Petitioners requested the Court to disqualify Candidate Pair 01 Siska Karina Imran–Sudirman and to certify that their correct vote acquisition should be 0 votes. They also requested that the votes be recalculated, with Candidate Pair 02 (Yudhianto Mahardika Anton Timbang–Nirna Lachmuddin) receiving 41,044 votes, Candidate Pair 03 (Sitya Giona Nur Alam–Subhan) securing 19,419 votes, Candidate Pair 04 (Aksan Jaya Putra–Andi Sulolipu) obtaining 13,815 votes, and the Petitioners receiving 51,598 votes.

 

Also read:

Petition for Case No. 97/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025

Response by the Respondent

Statement by the Relevant Party

Statement by Bawaslu

 

Author              : Sri Pujianti
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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