The latest polls indicate that Gibran has secured more than 80 percent of the vote in the Surakarta mayoral election in Central Java.

The Charta Politika quick count, which has finished counting 100 percent of the samples from polling stations, shows that Gibran and his running mate Teguh Prakosa are leading with 87.15 percent of the vote, while rival pair Bagyo Wahyono and Supardjo FX is tailing with just 12.85 percent. A separate quick count by the Voxpol Center also shows that the polls are favoring Gibran-Teguh with 86.65 percent of the vote, and just 13.34 percent for just Bagyo-Supardjo.

The Gibran-Teguh ticket was backed by all parties in Surakarta except one, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which did not meet the legislative threshold to nominate a candidate. Gibran’s backers include the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Mandate Party (PAN), Golkar Party, Gerindra and the Indonesia Solidarity Party (PSI).

Bagyo and Suparjo ran on an independent ticket.

Read also: Jokowi’s son a shoo-in for Surakarta election

In response to the latest quick count results, Gibran said he would wait for the official count from the General Elections Committee (KPU). He added that he had been focused more on health and safety rather than on winning during the 2020 elections, the first to be held amid the COVID-19 health emergency.

When asked about the controversies surrounding his candidacy because of his relationship to the President, he said that people were entitled to their own opinions while pointing out that he could still lose the election despite his familial ties.

“If you’re asking about a political dynasty, which dynasty?” Gibran told the media in Surakarta on Wednesday.

“Just like other contenders in the race, I could win or lose. [Voters have] no obligation to choose me. It just so happens that I am the son of the President.”

Read also: Polls run smoothly despite health fears

In North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution and running mate Aulia Rachman are leading the Medan mayoral race, with the Charta Politika quick count showing that Bobby-Aulia had claimed 55.29 percent of all votes sampled and Akhyar Nasution and Salman Alfarisi had gained 44.71 percent.

Bobby-Aulia is also leading in the Voxpol Center quick count with 52.70 percent of the vote, while Akhyar-Salman has gained 47.29 percent, with 98.57 percent of the sample counted. A third poll by Poltracking, which has finishing counting 97.14 percent of its sample, also favors Bobby-Aulia with 54.15 percent of the vote and Akhyar-Salman securing 45.85 percent.

The five parties that backed his brother-in-law’s mayoral bid in Surakarta are also backing Bobby and Aulia in Medan, with the addition of the United Development Party (PPP), Hanura and NasDem, while the PKS and the Democratic Party are in Akhyar and Salman’s corner.

Read also: Medan mayoral race: Neck-and-neck battle between incumbent and Jokowi's son-in-law

Echoing Gibran, Bobby said on Wednesday night: “We are waiting for the official count.”

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said the early results showed that the people viewed both Gibran and Bobby as credible leaders.

“This victory is proof of the sovereignty of the people in [scrutinizing] their regional leader candidates. Both [Gibran and Bobby] have shown their seriousness and determination, enthusiasm and commitment, despite the many attempts to hinder them,” Hasto said as quoted by kompas.com. (syk)

 

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include a direct comment from Gibran.