{
  "id": 4584215,
  "title": "Clerics elect Gus Kikin NU chair in first indirect polls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/clerics-elect-gus-kikin-nu-chair-in-first-indirect-polls",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T06:36:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2026/08/31/clerics-elect-gus-kikin-nu-chair-in-first-indirect-polls.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, known widely as Gus Kikin, has been chosen as the new NU chairman for the period 2026-2031 in a groundbreaking election using an indirect voting system. This marks the inaugural use of such a mechanism by the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim organization. The final selection was made by a council of senior clerics known as Ahlul Halli wal-Aqdi (AHWA).\n\nNine clerics within AHWA deliberated over a list of five candidates for 40 minutes during the closing day of the 35th NU National Congress in Jombang, East Java. The decision to pick Gus Kikin was unanimous. AHWA member Anwar Iskandar, who also leads the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), confirmed this on August 31.\n\nGus Kikin has a history with NU, having previously led the East Java chapter and currently serves as caretaker for Pondok Pesantren Tebuireng, another Islamic boarding school in Jombang. He replaces Yahya Cholil Staquf as NU chair. The outgoing Yahya's term was marred by internal leadership turmoil last year.\n\nIn his inaugural address, Gus Kikin assured, \"I will uphold NU's rules and mandates and safeguard the organization’s unity, both internally and externally.\" This election signifies a pivotal shift, as it is the first time AHWA has had the authority to choose the NU chairman, superseding the previous direct voting method.",
  "summary": "Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, popularly known as Gus Kikin, has been elected the new NU chairman for 2026-2031, in a historic first that used an indirect voting system with the group's AHWA council of senior clerics making the final pick.",
  "key_points": [
    "Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, known as Gus Kikin, elected NU chairman 2026-2031",
    "NU uses indirect voting system for first time in election",
    "Nine clerics from Ahlul Halli wal-Aqdi unanimously choose Gus Kikin"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The indirect voting system used to elect Gus Kikin as NU chairman marks a pivotal shift in the organization's leadership selection process, consolidating power in the hands of senior clerics.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}