The Respondent’s legal counsel Andi Jaya Adiputra (middle) at the examination hearing for Case No. 297/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Tolikara Regency election results dispute, Friday (1/24/2025) in panel 3 courtroom. Photo by MKRI/Bayu.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – The Constitutional Court (MK) held an examination hearing to hear the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu for Case No. 297/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the Tolikara regent election results dispute on Friday, January 24, 2025. It was presided over by Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Anwar Usman and Enny Nurbaningsih on panel 3. At the hearing, the Tolikara Regency KPU (Elections Commission) as Respondent responded to various allegations raised by the Petitioners concerning fraud and violations in the election and vote count process.

On behalf of the Respondent, Andi Jaya Adiputra stated that the Petitioners’ argument of fraud in the election stages as well as violations of the law was groundless, citing all stages of the election, from nomination to vote recapitulation, had been carried out following applicable laws and regulations. “The Respondent has carried out following the laws and regulations,” said Irwan Gustaf Lalegit.

One key issue raised pertained to the vote count in the district mentioned by the Petitioners. The Respondent clarified that the vote count process in the district had adhered to the established schedule and was supported by valid evidence, including the recapitulation results by the district election committee (PPD).

The Respondent also responded to the Tolikara Regency Bawaslu’s (Elections Supervisory Body) recommendation regarding a revote at 12 polling stations in Karubaga District. They asserted that the revote had been carried out under the KPU’s decision and Bawaslu’s recommendation, meaning the Petitioners’ argument was baseless.

Regarding the Petitioners’ request that votes from several districts be declared invalid, the Respondent emphasized that this was not following applicable procedures, and any disputes related to vote counting must be resolved at the district level through deliberation or other mechanisms by following applicable provisions.

Also, Candidate Pair 4 Willem Wandik-Yotam Wonda as the Relevant Party represented by Alberth E. Rumbekwan, emphasized that all stages of the election were conducted under the regulations and no evidence to substantiate the Petitioners’’ claim of violations that could invalidate the election results.

“Regarding the Petitioners’ argument regarding six districts [whose votes] were said to be invalid, we [would like to make] the same claim,” he stressed.

Representing Tolikara Regency Bawaslu, Busiri Payokwa explained that Bawaslu had found alleged administrative violations in the 2024 regent election. It was recorded in the findings issued on December 8, 2024.

“Based on these findings, Bawaslu forwarded the recommendation to the Tolikara Regency KPU through a recommendation issued on December 9, 2024,” explained Payokwa.

The violations were related to several districts, including Gilubandu, Telenggeme, Numba, Anawi, Aweku, Wugi, Kembu, Yuneri, and Air Garam. Bawaslu emphasized that the recommendation considered the timeline for the election dispute process, which concluded on December 18, 2024, following Constitutional Court Regulation No. 4 of 2024 concerning the stages, activities, and schedule for handling election results dispute cases. However, for the 12 polling stations in Karubaga and Bogonuk Districts, they clarified that the vote count results had been completed and were consistent with the recapitulation recorded in each district.

Also read: Wanimbo-Kogoya Challenge Tolikara Election Results, Alleging Improper Recapitulation

Candidate Pair 02 Nus Weya-Yan Wenda have filed a petition for the Tolikara Regency election results dispute. The Petitioners argued that several violations had been committed and affected the vote count results, such as the failure to conduct the vote counting recapitulation for numerous districts.

Thus, the Petitioners requested that the Court annul the vote recapitulation results certified by the Respondent and order a recapitulation following the mechanism regulated in the laws and regulations. The hearing will be continued with further examination of the evidence and witnesses presented by both parties.

Author         : Utami Argawati
Editor          : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR              : Tiara Agustina
Translator    : Syifa Amelia/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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