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Teman Ahok faces tough job after Ahok’s deputy candidate nomination
The Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) volunteer group will need to collect at least 532,213 ID-backed signatures to ensure Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s eligibility for the 2017 gubernatorial election, following the announcement of his running mate.
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Teman Ahok volunteers collect ID-backed signatures at a booth at Ambassador Mall in South Jakarta in July, 2015. The volunteers are gathering support for Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to run in the 2017 gubernatorial race on an independent ticket.
(JP/Jerry Adiguna)
CD
Callistasia Anggun Wijaya
The Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) volunteer group will need to collect at least 532,213 ID-backed signatures to ensure Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s eligibility for the 2017 gubernatorial election, following the announcement of his running mate.
The ID-backed signatures of 6.5 percent of eligible voters are required to be collected by June for submission to the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD Jakarta) the following month.
Ahok announced on Monday his decision to run as an independent gubernatorial candidate and will pair with Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board (BPKAD) head Heru Budi Hartono.
KPUD Jakarta has stressed that Teman Ahok has to ensure that Ahok’s supporters also support his deputy candidate.
“Before submitting the documents to KPUD Jakarta, the support forms should be filled with the name of the deputy candidate also," KPUD Jakarta chairman Sumarno told thejakartapost.com on Tuesday.
“The Regional Election Law regulates the support for candidate pairs. Support should be given not only to the gubernatorial candidate but also to the deputy gubernatorial candidate,” said Sumarno.
According to the Teman Ahok website, its volunteers had collected 774,452 ID-backed signatures. However, the volunteers will need to start all over again as the ID-backed signatures were collected prior to Ahok announcing his deputy candidate.
"If Ahok says that he has collected 1 million ID-backed signatures, then KPUD Jakarta will verify the 1 million forms," said Sumarno, adding that KPUD Jakarta officers would meet with the supporters to verify their support.
Meanwhile, Teman Ahok has begun collecting ID-backed signatures again, saying in a press release that it had two big tasks ahead. The volunteers will verify all of the supporters’ data that they have obtained and will need to check whether the supporters also pledge their support for Heru as the deputy governor candidate.
"If the supporters don't want to support Heru, they can rescind their support," Teman Ahok said in a press release.
Teman Ahok will distribute new forms that mention Heru's name as the deputy governor candidate. (bbn)
