A chorus of people claiming that their identities had been used without their consent to support the candidacy of retired police general Dharma Pongrekun and running mate Kun Wardana, an academic, emerged on social media after the KPU Jakarta confirmed last week that the pair was qualified to run as independents.

Unlike in presidential and legislative elections, independent candidates can register for the regional polls provided that they can collect enough signatures from voters in their province, city or regency.

While it remains unclear who or what lies behind the alleged identity fraud, activists have been quick to call into question the ability of the KPU Jakarta to organize a fair election and secure its database.

“It appears that the KPU, as an election organizer, failed to ensure that the [candidates’] registration process was in line with procedures,” constitutional law expert Feri Amsari told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Feri went on to say that political motives could be at play behind the KPU Jakarta’s mishap, which would “hamper the fairness of the Jakarta gubernatorial election”.