MK Cancels Tasikmalaya Regency Pilkada Results, First Time in West Java

BANDUNG, KOMPAS- The Constitutional Court annulled the results of the Tasikmalaya Regency regional head election due to violations of Ade Sugianto's nomination requirements on Monday (24/2/2025). This decision is the first time it has happened in the history of regional head elections in West Java.

In a hearing led by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Suhartoyo, the judges considered that one of the regent candidates, Ade Sugianto, did not meet the requirements as a candidate. The incumbent candidate has held the position of regent of Tasikmalaya for two terms so he cannot run again.

In the Tasikmalaya Pilbup dispute, the applicants are candidate pair number 2, Cecep Nurul Yakin and Asep Sopari Al-Ayubi. The respondent is the Tasikmalaya General Election Commission (KPU).

In his argument, the applicant calculated Ade Sugianto's term of office since he became deputy regent but carried out his duties as regent from September 5, 2018 to March 23, 2021 or more than 2.5 years.

The Constitutional Court ordered the General Election Commission (KPU) of Tasikmalaya Regency to hold a re-vote (PSU) without including Ade Sugianto no later than 60 days after the Constitutional Court's decision was read.

The Constitutional Court also left it entirely up to political parties or coalitions of political parties to replace Ade Sugianto as the running mate of deputy regent candidate Iip Miptahul Paoz.

It is known that Ade won the most votes in the last regional election. The KPU vote recapitulation results showed that the Ade Sugianto-Iip Mipathul Paoz candidate pair won 487,854 votes and won in 37 of the total 39 sub-districts.

West Java KPU Chairman Ahmad Nur Hidayat when interviewed said that his party really regretted the re-vote for the entire Tasikmalaya Regency area. According to him, this was the first time this had happened in West Java.

He explained that there were 11 cases of Pilkada results from West Java at the Constitutional Court. Only Tasikmalaya Regency continued to the evidentiary stage until the verdict this Monday.

"This is an evaluation for the KPU ranks in West Java in carrying out their duties. Hopefully, this PSU will not happen again in the next Pilkada," said Ahmad.

He added that the West Java KPU is still waiting for instructions from the Indonesian KPU for the implementation of the PSU in Tasikmalaya Regency. "We will also accompany the ranks of the Tasikmalaya Regency KPU in the implementation of the PSU," he added.

Political observer from Padjadjaran University, Firman Manan, opined that the Constitutional Court's decision to annul the Pilkada results was the first in West Java. According to him, this decision must be respected by all parties involved.

He considered this decision not only an evaluation for the Tasikmalaya Regency KPU but also the West Java KPU. Because, the West Java KPU plays a role in carrying out monitoring and supervision functions.

"This is a note that not only money politics is prone to occur in the Pilkada. However, the problem of candidate requirements is also really taken into account," said Firman.

He also said, this decision has an impact the longer the residents do not have a definitive regional head. "It is feared that a sense of apathy will arise from the community that determines their participation in the Pilkada," said Firman.