Thursday, 05 November 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Lokot Nasution has declared his readiness to stand again for the position of Chairman of the North Sumatra Regional Executive Board (DPD) of the Democratic Party at the party's fifth regional conference (Musda V) in 2026. He said he had already secured the backing of several district and city-level party branches (DPCs), but stressed that such support must be underpinned by demonstrable achievements and an accountable leadership record.
Lokot regards support from local party branches as an important foundation for the election of the DPD chairman. At the same time, he acknowledged that the final decision on the leadership of the Democratic Party in North Sumatra rests with party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY).He made the statement on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, during a discussion with media representatives in Medan. Also attending the meeting were Johan Wiryawan Bangun, acting secretary of the North Sumatra DPD of the Democratic Party; Chairil Mukmin Tambunan, head of the DPD's Election Campaign Team (Bappilu); and H. M. Sajali, head of the DPD's Organisation, Cadre Development and Membership Board (BPOKK).
Other attendees included H. Iswanda Nanda Ramli, chairman of the Medan DPC of the Democratic Party; Chairil Huda, head of the DPD's Communications and Information Division; and other party officials.However, Lokot stressed that such support does not automatically guarantee that a candidate will be entrusted with leading the organisation again. In his view, candidates for the DPD chairmanship must also demonstrate outstanding performance and meet the party's assessment criteria.
"When I am asked whether I will stand, the answer is yes, I am ready. At present, there is support from the DPCs, and that support is as comprehensive as possible. Beyond that, performance must also be sound, and the best possible results must be demonstrated. Ultimately, the decision on who will lead the Democratic Party in North Sumatra again rests with party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono," Lokot said.His statement also underlined that the election of the DPD chairman is not solely about political support from district and city branches. Previous leadership performance and the ability to manage the party organisation effectively are also important considerations.
For Lokot, the support he has received must go hand in hand with the responsibility of maintaining the trust of party members. He also said he was prepared to go through every stage of the regional conference in accordance with the Democratic Party's applicable regulations.
Lokot explained that the Democratic Party allows its members to seek the chairmanship of a DPD through an internal selection process. The procedure is guided by the party's constitution and bylaws (AD/ART).
According to him, the party's organisational regulations provide the basis for all members wishing to contest the election. All candidates must therefore comply with the established procedures and must not disregard the party's internal rules."Therefore, anyone who meets the organisational requirements has the opportunity to take part in this process," he said.
Lokot considers this mechanism important for maintaining unity within the organisation while giving qualified party members the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities through internal competition.The regional conference is an important step in determining the future leadership of the Democratic Party in North Sumatra. It also provides the party with an opportunity to assess the performance of the current leadership and strengthen consolidation down to the local party branches.
In this regard, Lokot said he would follow all established organisational procedures. He also emphasised that every candidate for a leadership position must demonstrate their abilities and achievements in line with the organisation's requirements.
Although Lokot has already secured the backing of several DPCs, he acknowledged that such support is not the only factor determining the outcome of the regional conference. He stressed that Democratic Party chairman AHY has the authority to select the person who will lead the party's North Sumatra DPD.
This means that the election of the DPD chairman does not depend solely on support from local party branches. The assessment of candidates' previous achievements and their suitability for the leadership role will also inform the decision.Lokot made it clear that his willingness to lead the party again goes hand in hand with his commitment to following the organisational procedures. He regards AHY's assessment of his previous performance and leadership record as an important part of the selection process for the next term.
His statement shows that Lokot is not relying exclusively on DPC support as his political foundation. He is also aware of the importance of having his leadership performance assessed by the party's central leadership.Ahead of the Democratic Party's fifth regional conference in North Sumatra in November 2026, developments in support among local party branches have become part of the party's internal consolidation. However, the entire process remains subject to organisational regulations and decisions made by the party's national leadership.
Lokot reaffirmed his readiness to lead the Democratic Party in North Sumatra again, provided he receives AHY's confidence. He said he intended to demonstrate his best performance in order to be considered a suitable candidate to continue leading the organisation during the next term.With this stance, Lokot views party members' support, organisational performance and the authority of the party chairman as three interconnected factors in determining the future leadership of the Democratic Party in North Sumatra. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
