Zulharbi Amatahir (center), legal counsel for the Petitioner when listening the ruling hearing on the 2024 Banggai Regent Election Result Dispute on Monday (5 May 2025) in the courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo: MKRI/Ifa

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JAKARTA, (MKRI) — The Constitutional Court (MKRI) dismissed Case Number 316/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the 2024 General Election Results Dispute (PHPU) for the Banggai Regent Election following the re-vote. The Court found a discrepancy between the arguments presented by Regent and Vice Regent Candidate Pair Number 3, Sulianti Murad and Samsul Bahri Mang, in the grounds of the petition and petitum.

"In the arguments of the petition (posita), the Petitioner described alleged violations at only 10 polling stations in Simpang Raya and Toili sub districts. However, in the petitum, the Petitioner requested the Court to order a re-vote at 32 polling stations within the same sub districts," stated Constitutional Justice Ridwan Mansyur as he delivered the Court’s legal considerations during the ruling hearing on Monday (5 May 2025) in the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court, Jakarta.

Constitutional Justice Ridwan explained that the Petitioner submitted two types of petitum, one of which was alternative. The first alternative petitum contained a request for a re-vote throughout Banggai Regency and the second alternative petitum contained a request for a re-vote at 32 polling stations in Simpang Raya and Toili sub districts.

"The Court considered that the petitum requesting a re-vote at all polling stations across Banggai Regency exceeded the appropriate scope. Based on the Constitutional Court’s previous Decision Number 171/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, the Court had only ordered a revote in two subdistricts—Simpang Raya and Toili. Therefore, the election results in other sub districts outside these two areas were deemed valid and final by the Court."

Meanwhile, the Court considered that the petitum requesting the annulment of the vote count results and a re-vote (PSU) at 32 polling stations was not supported by the arguments presented in the posita, as the Petitioner only described alleged violations at 10 polling stations.

Accordingly, the Court declared the petition unclear or obscure. The remaining parts of the petition were not examined further, as the Court found them irrelevant and legally unfounded.

"In the principal matter, the petition is declared inadmissible," stated Chief Justice Suhartoyo as he read out the decision.

For context, Regent and Deputy Regent Candidate Pair Number 3, Sulianti Murad and Samsul Bahri Mang, filed a 2024 Banggai Regent Election Results Dispute (PHPU) petition following the implementation of a re-vote (PSU) at all polling stations in Toili and Simpang Raya Subdistricts. The Petitioners alleged that the Related Party, Candidate Pair Number 1, Amirudin–Furqanuddin Masulili—incumbent Regent of Banggai—had misused local government programs for campaign purposes.

“Handbags were distributed on a massive scale to residents in Simpang Raya and Toili Subdistricts from 27 February to March,” stated the Petitioners’ legal counsel, A.H. Wakil Kamal, during the preliminary hearing of Case Number 316/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 in Panel 2 Courtroom, Jakarta.

Following the re-vote at all polling stations in both subdistricts, the Petitioners obtained 94,176 votes, while the Related Party secured 95,073 votes. The resulting vote difference was 897 votes, or 0.41 percent, which met the threshold stipulated under Article 158 of the Regional Head Election Law (Pilkada Law) for filing a results dispute before the Constitutional Court.

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Previously, the Court had partially granted Case Number 171/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the 2024 Banggai Regent Election Results Dispute filed by Candidate Pair Number 3, Sulianti Murad and Samsul Bahri Mang. In its ruling, the Court ordered the Banggai Regency KPU, as the Respondent, to conduct re-voting in all polling stations in Toili and Simpang Raya Districts.

“Ordering the Respondent to conduct a re-voting by including voters listed in the Permanent Voters List, the Transfer Voters List, and the Additional Voters List used during the November 27, 2024 election for the Regent and Deputy Regent of Banggai, at all polling stations in Toili Subdistrict and Simpang Raya Subdistrict,” stated Chief Justice Suhartoyo, accompanied by the eight other constitutional justices, during the decision pronouncement hearing held on Monday, February 24, 2025, in the Plenary courtroom 1, Jakarta.(*)

Author : Mimi Kartika

Editor : Lulu Anjarsari P.

PR : Fauzan Febriyan

Translator : Fuad Subhan

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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