Irwandi Yusuf (left) - Nova Iriansyah (Antara)

Five years after his failed attempt to extend his term as governor in 2012, the popular Aceh leader and former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) member Irwandi Yusuf has been elected Aceh governor for the second time.

Aceh’s Independent Election Commission (KIP) on Friday confirmed Irwandi’s victory in the February election, a few days after the Constitutional Court rejected an election dispute lawsuit filed by his strongest rivals.

Irwandi, who had led Aceh from 2007 to 2012, defeated several rivals, most of whom are former comrades in the now-defunct GAM.

The KIP announced that Irwandi and his running mate, Nova Iriansyah, garnered 898,710 votes, or 37 percent of the total. Nova is a former House of Representatives member.

Irwandi’s strongest rivals, the Muzakir Manaf-TA Khalid pairing and the Tarmizi A Karim-T Machsalmina Ali pairing, gained 766.427 votes (31 percent) and 406.865 votes (16 percent), respectively.

Muzakir, a former GAM member, had challenged the election result at the Constitutional Court, but the court rejected his petition, saying the difference (5.4 percentage points) in votes collected by the two pairs was too big. The court only handles election disputes where the difference is no more than 1.5 percentage points.

“We can now confirm that the Irwandi-Nova pair is the winner of the election based on the Constitutional Court’s ruling,” KIP chairman Ridwan Hadi said.

Irwandi’s supporters welcomed the KIP’s decision.

“The Constitutional Court’s ruling is not only a victory for the Irwandi-Nova faction, it is also a victory of the Acehnese people,” said Ahmad Dhani, the coordinator of Irwandi’s group of volunteers.

Irwandi, who was backed by the Democratic Party, the National Aceh Party (PNA) and several smaller parties, is the first freely elected governor of Aceh. As a former GAM member, Irwandi initially ran for governor as an independent candidate.

In 2012, he failed to retain his position as governor after being defeated by Zaini Abdullah, his senior in GAM who once resided in Sweden. Zaini was then supported by the Aceh Party, a powerful local party established by former GAM members.

After his defeat, Irwandi formed the PNA and won the support of former GAM members who felt disenfranchised by Zaini and Aceh Party leaders.

The fragmentation of support from former GAM members in the 2017 election is said to have benefited Irwandi. Other than Irwandi, Zaini and Muzakir, the other former GAM member taking part in the election was Zakaria Saman.

“I am happy that Irwandi won the election and has become the governor again. I have seen how his leadership brought prosperity to the little people,” said Banda Aceh resident Marwadah Hamid.

Irwandi ran the election on a populist platform. His promised Aceh Healthcare (JKA) program provides free healthcare services for people residing in the sharia-based province.

“This is not like the National Healthcare Program (JKN) that burdens people. This JKA program really helps people,” Marwadah said, adding that she hoped Irwandi would implement the program and fulfill his campaign promises.

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