Prabowo-Gibran Camp Says Jokowi's Effect Key to Victory in NTT

TEMPO.CO, Kupang - Presidential and vice presidential candidate pair, Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, garnered the majority of votes in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) based on the General Election Commission’s (KPU) real count as of 2 pm today, Feb. 16. The regional campaign team (TKD) acknowledged that Jokowi's effect played a pivotal role in the pair's victory in the province. 

“The adoration for Jokowi has quite a good effect on the voters' movement in NTT and across the nation,” the TKD NTT chairman Melki Laka Lena said on Friday, Feb. 16.

He assessed that in addition to the strength of the political parties backing the pair, Prabowo-Gibran obtained a significant number of votes because Jokowi’s supporters perceived they were determined to resume the President’s program.

Some pollsters also showed the public's perception of the close relationship between Prabowo and Jokowi. Melki opined that this could prevent the need for a runoff vote.

“People see that Jokowi's programs will continue in the hands of Prabowo-Gibran. The Jokowi’s effect influences voters in NTT,” he added.

Suharjito, the chairman of the NTT Gelora Party, said that the Prabowo-Gibran pair emerged victorious despite being attacked by contentious issues during the cooling-off period. He also highlighted that those issues did not affect Jokowi’s avid supporters.

While unofficial quick count results suggest that Prabowo-Gibran is leading the presidential race with 58 percent of the national vote, people are urged to maintain a safe situation, refrain from euphoria, and wait for the KPU’s official announcement on March 20, 2024.

YOHANES SEO

Editor's Choice: Rempang Residents Respond to Quick Count Favoring Prabowo-Gibran

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News