The race for the Jakarta governor and deputy governor seats is truly beginning to feel like a presidential election.

Two former presidents and one former presidential candidate have made last ditch efforts to help their respective preferred candidates secure City Hall’s top posts in a race many pollsters have predicted will be very tight.

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his predecessor Megawati Soekarnoputri and former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who have frequently been involved in political clashes at the national level, have now officially joined the show, increasing political tension ahead of polling day on Feb. 15.

On Sunday, Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo, who lost to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the 2014 presidential election, attended the major campaign rally of the Anies Baswedan — Sandiaga Uno ticket at Banteng Square, Central Jakarta.

The retired military general roused the thousands of audience members, who cheered and chanted, “Prabowo! President!”

“You have to work hard, not only for the 2019 [election], but also in February 2017,” Prabowo said in his speech, which also fueled speculation that he plans to have another shot at the presidential palace in 2019.

Anies, meanwhile, warned his supporters about possible election fraud.

“We need you to guard polling stations and the vote-counting process. Don’t let our hard work be stolen by others,” Anies said in his speech.

Prabowo was actually the first “big gun” to become directly involved in the gubernatorial election campaign. His first appearance was on Jan. 29 when he joined an Anies-Sandiaga campaign rally at Soemantri Brodjonegoro Sports Stadium in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Several days later, Megawati joined the army of musicians and celebrities at “Konser Gue 2” (I AM 2 concert) at the Ex-Driving Range Senayan in Central Jakarta, a campaign event for incumbent ticket Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

A number of executives from political parties that have endorsed the pair, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party, the NasDem Party and the Hanura Party, also attended the event, which also featured a performance from legendary local rock band Slank.

In her speech, the PDI-P chairwoman called on all Ahok-Djarot supporters to uphold the principles of unity in diversity and Pancasila.

“Pancasila tells us how to live together peacefully regardless of our religion, ethnicity and race. [...] We shouldn’t think small, because this can lead to meaningless slander and criticism that divides us,” Megawati said in front of thousands of supporters wearing the pair’s iconic red-blue plaid shirts.

Ahok claimed the performers had joined the concert voluntarily. “This proves that our campaign is participatory and people-based. We didn’t pay [the musicians and bands]. They, in fact, initiated this concert, I never thought to make it this big,” Ahok said.

The Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni camp has also pulled out all the stops.

Agus’ father Yudhoyono, who had previously shied away from campaigning for his son, reportedly to let Agus prove his political prowess on his own, has also “come out of retirement”.

Speaking to hundreds of Agus-Sylviana supporters in Ciracas, East Jakarta, on Saturday, the chairman of the Democratic Party, the main backer of the ticket, called for unity among Jakartans despite the heated and tense campaign season.

He said Agus-Sylviana could take Jakarta “in a better direction” and could “fulfill the hopes of Jakartans”.

“Jakarta residents have long waited for a real leader, who, apart from being clever and tough, loves their citizens. Not a leader who ... well, I think you know what I mean,” Yudhoyono said.

The Agus-Sylviana ticket will hold their last public campaign event on Feb. 11 at the Soemantri stadium.

Meanwhile, Ahok plans to hold a pesta rakyat (people’s party) on Feb. 11, which is the last day of campaigning.

“There will be culinary [booths]. We want to express our thanks to all of our supporters at the end of the campaign period. The event might be held in Kemayoran [in Central Jakarta],” Ahok said.

The cooling-off period is set for Feb. 12 to Feb. 14.

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