Depok (April 22, 2026) – The internal contest within the National Awakening Party (PKB) in Depok City has entered a crucial phase. Five candidates for the position of Chairman of the PKB Depok City Branch Executive Board officially underwent the Competency and Eligibility Test at the West Java Regional Leadership Council level on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
The five names being considered are the result of a rigorous selection process during the Branch Conference held in early April. These names are Muhammad Faizin, Iwan Setiawan, Siswanto, Abdul Khoir, and Babai Suhaimi.
Multi-Layered Selection Mechanism
The incumbent Chairman of the PKB Depok City Branch Executive Board, M. Faizin, explained that the Competency and Eligibility Test at the regional level is the initial phase of the leadership selection process. This politician, who also serves as a member of the West Java Provincial Regional House of Representatives, emphasized that the selection process does not end in Bandung but will continue to the central level.
“Today we have completed the first stage of the Competency and Eligibility Test at the Regional Leadership Council. After this, the candidates are scheduled to undergo a second competency test directly at the PKB Central Executive Board. This is the party’s mechanism to ensure the next leader has adequate capacity,” said Faizin.
Not Just a Formality: An Effort to Upgrade Capacity
According to Faizin, the Competency and Eligibility Test is a strategic instrument for updating the competencies of party cadres. In line with this, the Chairman of the PKB West Java Regional Leadership Council, Syaiful Huda, stated that the five figures selected are a representation of the best cadres PKB currently has in Depok City.
Although the chairman position is intended for only one person, Faizin believes the loyalty of the candidates will not fade. “All candidates share the same spirit to strengthen the party. Whoever is elected later, our main focus remains the same: organizational solidarity,” he added.
Looking Ahead to the 2029 Electoral Target
Regarding the chances of each candidate, Faizin stated that all names have an equal probability of being chosen by the Central Executive Board. The final decision now rests entirely with the central leadership based on the results of the competency test.
While awaiting the decision from the Central Executive Board, the PKB Depok management has been instructed to remain focused on political work in the field. This step is taken to maintain the rhythm of the party machine in efforts to expand the electoral base.
“Our target for the 2029 General Election is relatively high. While waiting for the official decree to be issued, all party elements continue to engage with the community to strengthen our electoral support,” Faizin concluded.
Through this Competency and Eligibility Test process, PKB Depok aims to produce leadership that not only has political legitimacy but also superior competence to face increasingly competitive political challenges in the future.
