Ahok leaves independent path

JAKARTA. Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama announced on Wednesday that he will seek reelection in next year’s gubernatorial election with the support of the Golkar Party, the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party.  

“Political parties have changed. Now they do not nominate candidates, who have a lot of money,” said Ahok, during a halal bi halal (post Ramadhan gathering) organized by Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok), the main supporters of Ahok in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.

Before the event, Ahok said he had told Teman Ahok about the decision. “I will use the political parties [as my political vehicles],” Ahok said.

Ahok declared himself an independent candidate in March and nominated the Jakarta administration's Finance and Asset Management Board head, Heru Budi Hartono, as his running mate.

Teman Ahok announced that its volunteers had collected 1 million vote pledges, as required by law for individuals to run as an independent candidate.