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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Four candidates emerge in race for top Nahdlatul Ulama leadership

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Four candidates are emerging as frontrunners for the leadership of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, ahead of its upcoming congress.
  • The candidates include the current chairman, KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, and three others with diverse backgrounds and support bases.
  • Analysts are evaluating their leadership potential, organizational experience, and proposed reforms for the influential organization.

As the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress approaches, the race for the top leadership position is narrowing to four prominent figures. The candidates vying to lead the world's largest Islamic organization include the incumbent chairman, KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, alongside KH Imam Jazuli, KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, and KH Yusuf Chudlori.

They each have different support bases, experiences, networks, and leadership characters. Their organizational political capital and challenges are also different.

— M Wildan, NU youth intellectual and Insantara researcherWildan analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the four leading candidates for NU chairman.

The congress, scheduled for August 27-31, 2026, in Jombang, East Java, will convene under the theme "Maintaining Dignity, Enriching Service for the Nation's Benefit." Analysts note that each candidate brings distinct organizational, political, and leadership strengths, along with unique challenges.

From an organizational political perspective, this experience is important capital for maintaining leadership.

— M WildanWildan discusses the advantages of the incumbent chairman's experience.

KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, as the current chairman, benefits from his experience, organizational knowledge, and established network. His tenure has seen efforts toward modernizing the organization and implementing digital governance. However, he faces scrutiny over his leadership record, including organizational management, internal party relations, financial matters, and past controversies.

The polemics of organizational governance, the relationship between Syuriyah and Tanfidziyah, financial issues, asset and business management, as well as various controversies and corruption cases involving officials, are all subjects of evaluation that cannot be separated from the congress arena.

— M WildanWildan outlines the challenges facing the incumbent chairman.

KH Imam Jazuli is gaining traction as an independent candidate, emphasizing pesantren (Islamic boarding school) reform and improved santri (student) quality. His focus on transformation resonates with those seeking change within NU. The other candidates, KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz and KH Yusuf Chudlori, also present their own unique platforms and support bases as the organization prepares for this significant leadership transition.

Even the leadership of Gus Yahya is considered the most failed in the history of PBNU by a large segment of the public.

— M WildanWildan relays a critical assessment of the incumbent chairman's leadership.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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