Gerindra's chairman Prabowo Subianto personally selected Luthfi for the role.

"Prabowo has decided that Insp. Gen. Ahmad Luthfi will be the candidate for Central Java governor," Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani said during a press conference on Monday, as quoted by tempo.co.

Luthfi's selection is based on his deep understanding of Central Java, where he has served as provincial police chief since 2020 and previously in Surakarta, where outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo calls home.

In 2011, Luthfi was deputy chief of the Surakarta Police, under city police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is now the National Police chief.

One year after Jokowi was elected president, Luthfi was promoted to Surakarta Police chief with the rank of senior commissioner in 2015.

Three years later in 2018, he was promoted to brigadier general and appointed deputy chief of the Central Java Police and then in 2020 he was promoted to his current position of Central Java police chief and elevated in rank to inspector general.

Jokowi accelerated the promotion of military and police officers serving at various posts in Surakarta while he served as mayor from 2005-2012.

Luthfi’s extensive experience in the province makes him a strong contender for the position.

Muzani emphasized that Luthfi has been preparing for this role for quite some time, even planning to retire as the Central Java Police chief to focus on the upcoming gubernatorial contest.

"In due course, Luthfi may soon retire from his position as the police chief or active-duty officer to prepare himself as a potential gubernatorial candidate,” he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

“Following that, political communication with various parties, including party officials, will intensify."

Born on Nov. 22, 1966, Luthfi is scheduled to officially retire once he turns 58 years old.  

The decision to nominate Ahmad Luthfi has been communicated to the Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) parties. However, Prabowo has yet to decide on Luthfi's running mate.

“While several names are prominent, including [Jokowi’s youngest son] Kaesang [Pangarep], Prabowo is carefully evaluating the situation, and a decision will eventually be made,” Muzani explained, as quoted by liputan6.com.

Litbang Kompas, the research arm of Kompas daily, in a June survey showed Ahmad Luthfi's electability at 6.8 percent. In comparison, Kaesang’s electability was recorded at 7 percent in the open-ended response model and 19.4 percent in the semiclosed response model.

Also in June, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan nominated Luthfi as inspector general at the Trade Ministry, pending a final review and a presidential decree.

Luthfi's potential new role drew public attention, as it was the latest in the long list of high-ranking police officers filling civil service positions.