The Petitioners’ legal counsel Zaki Akbar at the ruling hearing for the 2024 Wakatobi regent election results dispute Case No. 204/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, Tuesday (2/4/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Constitutional Court (MK) declared the petition filed by Regent Candidate Pair 1 Hamiruddin and Muhammad Ali (Petitioners) inadmissible. The decision was delivered at a ruling hearing for the 2024 Wakatobi regent election dispute case No. 61/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

The Petitioners previously argued that incumbent regent Haliana (Relevant Party) had conducted programs such as distributions of staple food to the people of Sombu Village, Wangi-Wangi District on September 18 and social aid in Togo Binongko District on October 18, 2024. However, the Court opined that there was not any election violation.

While the Petitioners argued the Relevant Party mobilized civil state apparatus (ASN) at an event, the Court deemed that such arguments lacked evidence. Another argument raised was that the firefighter volunteers in Oru Village, Togo Binongko District campaigned for Candidate Pair 2 (Relevant Party). Yet, the Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) stated to have not found any election violation.

“Thus, the Court lacks confidence in the validity of the issues argued by the Petitioners. Therefore, the Court concludes that the Petitioners’ a quo arguments are not reasonable according to law,” said Justice Daniel.

Also read:

Wakatobi Incumbent Regent Allegedly Abused Authority

Wakatobi Elections Commission Denies Mobilization of Civil State Apparatus

At the preliminary hearing on Wednesday, January 15, the Petitioners strongly alleged Hailana, Regent Candidate 2 abusing his authority as incumbent regent for the 2021–2026 term and misappropriating programs and activities for his own benefits in the 2024 election. The Petitioners argued that these were in clear violation of Article 71 paragraph (3) of Law No. 1 of 2015, which prohibits regents or vice regents from taking advantage of their authority from six months before the candidate nomination until election.

Author              : Sri Pujianti
Editor               : Tiara Agustina
Translator         : M. Hafidh Al Mukmin/Yuniar Widiastuti (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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