Gibran’s Educational Qualification as Vice Presidential Candidate Previously Challenged at PTUN

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Denny Indrayana revealed that Gibran Rakabuming Raka's educational qualifications as a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) in the 2024 presidential election were once challenged at the State Administrative Court (PTUN).

Denny disclosed this as the Third Petitioner during the preliminary hearing of the election dispute case (PHPU) Number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026 at the Constitutional Court (MK) on Monday night (21/9/2026).

"Testing the equivalency certificate of Mr. Gibran's education at PTUN," Denny said during the hearing, as cited from the MKRI YouTube broadcast on Monday.

However, PTUN could not accept the case because the subject matter contested by Subhan as Petitioner X is outside PTUN's jurisdiction.

"Therefore, the State Administrative Court does not have absolute authority to examine and decide the dispute case," Denny explained.

Besides PTUN, petitioners in PHPU Number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026 also questioned Gibran's educational requirements in general courts, the Central Information Commission (KIP), and even sent letters to the House of Representatives (DPR).

Denny revealed that all these efforts failed to yield clarity, leaving the Constitutional Court as the ultimate hope.

"Thus, the Court in this matter acts as the court of last resort, so that justice is not denied—a denial of justice," Denny stated.

Gibran's Candidacy Requirements Challenged at the Constitutional Court

As background, Denny along with several parties filed a lawsuit related to the 2024 PHPU contesting Gibran’s candidacy as vice president, arguing he does not meet the educational qualifications.

"We found initial evidence indicating that the vice presidential candidate of pair number 02 does not meet the minimum education requirement, which is at least a senior high school (SLTA) diploma or equivalent," Denny said at the MK building on Thursday.

The petitioners include the Independent Election Monitoring Committee, Partai Ummat, Denny Indrayana himself, the Retired TNI Soldiers Forum, Subhan, Bonatua Silalahi, and Tiurma MS Sihombing.

Febrianto Adi Saputro Constitutional law expert Denny Indrayana giving a statement to the media at the Constitutional Court (MK), Jakarta, Thursday (10/9/2026). (KOMPAS.COM/Febrianto Adi Saputro)

In the petition read by Refly Harun, the legal counsel, the petitioners requested the MK fully grant their petition.

"Second, to declare that the educational requirements stipulated in Article 169 letter r of Law Number 7 of 2017 on General Elections are imperative conditions that must be validly fulfilled at the time of registration and determination of presidential and vice-presidential candidate pairs," Refly read the petition.

Third, to declare the disqualification of Vice Presidential Candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka due to failing to meet the educational qualifications as regulated in Article 169 letter r of Law Number 7 of 2017 on General Elections.

"Fourth, to declare that the appointment of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a vice-presidential candidate in the 2024 general election is legally flawed from the outset and therefore has no binding legal force," he added.

The petitioners also asked the MK to order the People's Consultative Assembly to hold a session to elect the Vice President from two candidates proposed by the President, no later than 60 (sixty) days after this decision is pronounced, as regulated in Article 8 paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.