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Will Jokowi’s gamble in North Sumatra election pay off?
The intention to take revenge for Jokowi’s “act of betrayal” to the PDI-P is another impetus for the party’s voters to foil Bobby’s ascent to governorship.
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National Awakening Party (PKB) deputy secretary-general Jazilul Fawaid (right) shakes hand with Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution (left) upon handing over a letter on the party's official endorsement in the upcoming North Sumatra gubernatorial election at the party's headquarters in Jakarta on July 4, 2024. The Islam-based party officially backs Bobby, who is also the son-in-law of President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo, in the upcoming North Sumatra gubernatorial election, slated for November. (Antara/Rivan Awal Lingga)
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fter catapulting his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka to the vice presidential post, albeit pending his inauguration on Oct. 20, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is now putting his remaining political clout to the test in the upcoming North Sumatra gubernatorial election in November.
Jokowi’s son-in-law, Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, is bidding for a higher office, despite his performance as Medan mayor having not been that impressive. Bobby will continue to bank on Jokowi’s big name and power to realize his political ambition as he did when he snatched the mayoral post five years ago.
For Jokowi the simultaneous regional head elections on Nov. 27 will define his political future after the transfer of power to his successor Prabowo Subianto in October. Bobby’s victory and the success of Jokowi’s youngest son Kaesang Pangarep in his quest for the top executive post either in Central Java, Jakarta or other regions, coupled with Gibran’s VP role, will provide the seventh president a platform to remain as a key player in national politics.
To some extent, Jokowi’s exercise of power has been evident in Bobby’s candidacy. As a Gerindra Party member, he has secured support from a grand alliance that includes the Onward Indonesia Coalition of Gerindra, the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Democratic Party, plus the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP).
Thanks in part to the formidable political party backing and the Jokowi factor, Bobby is the front-runner in the gubernatorial race, ahead of former governor Edy Rahmayadi, who is seeking reelection. A Vote Institute survey in May found that Bobby gained a popularity rate of 21.4 percent, against 13.7 percent for Edy, 3.9 percent for chairman of Golkar’s North Sumatra chapter and former deputy governor Musa “Ijeck” Rajeksah and 3.8 percent for former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.
In terms of their electability ratings, Bobby takes the lead with 35.2 percent, with Edy, a former three-star Army general, trailing a distant second with 23.1 percent, followed by Ahok with 13.1 percent and Ijeck with 7. 8 percent.
Ijeck quit the race before it began, saying he would focus on his new job as a House of Representatives member for the 2024-2029 tenure. Previously Ijeck had received a mandate from Golkar to prepare for the gubernatorial election, until the party decided to fully support Bobby.
