Jakarta’s governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, has conceded defeat to rival candidate Anies Baswedan in a runoff election after a polarising and fraught campaign that exposed religious and ethnic divisions in Indonesia’s capital.



“Congratulations Anies and Sandi and their entire team and supporters,” Ahok said, referring to Baswedan’s running mate, the businessman Sandiaga Uno. “We all want a better Jakarta, we want Jakarta to be our home together.”

Unofficial, “quick count” results from Wednesday’s election suggested that Baswedan, a Muslim, had won the runoff comfortably against Ahok, a Christian from the country’s ethnic Chinese minority.

Quick counts, which are based on samples of votes from polling stations, are often used for guidance in countries where official results are not released until weeks after an election.

Hours after the voting closed, several credible pollstersgave Baswedan a decisive lead of about 15 points.

Religious issues dominated the campaign in the capital of the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. Ahok, who is credited by his supporters with cracking down on corruption, streamlining bureaucracy and tackling infrastructure woes, was polling well until he was accused of insulting Islam on the campaign trail in September when he cited a verse from the Qur’an, Al Maidah 51. An ongoing blasphemy trial ensued, which has significantly dented his popularity.

Several mass protests spearheaded by Islamic hardliners late last year branded Ahok a kafir, called for his arrest, and helped generate momentum for the idea that Muslims should reject non-Muslim leaders.

Banners and pamphlets with discriminatory messages, including threats that Muslims who voted for Ahok would be denied Islamic funeral rites, were widely circulated among Jakarta’s dense neighbourhoods.

Ahok also drew criticism for his brash manner and the controversial eviction of poor, riverside communities, but in the minds of some voters his religious affiliation overshadowed all other issues.

Asep Suribayana – one of more than 7 million residents registered to vote in Wednesday’s election – said he voted along religious lines.

“Ahok has done a good job, he has good ideas. The problem for me is really just in relation to Al Maidah,” he said. “I want Jakarta to be peaceful so I chose a leader who follows Islam.”



Voters such as Suribayana believe Al Maidah 51 obliges Muslims to choose Muslim leaders.



Baswedan, a former Indonesian education and culture minister, has been accused by critics of capitalising on the theologically riven electorate. Baswedan, and his running mate Uno, deny the charges.

Ahok pledged to work hard during his remaining six months in office and to assist the winning pair with any requests.

Wednesday’s result, seen as having a bearing on the 2019 presidential vote, is being closely watched by observers.



With more than 60,000 security personnel deployed across the capital, voting was largely conducted smoothly across more than 13,000 polling stations, although there were some reports of voters being intimidated.

After voting in central Jakarta, the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, himself a former Jakarta governor, called for the mending of political divisions.



“Political differences should not break our unity,” he said. “We are all brothers and sisters. Whoever is elected, we must accept.”



The official results are expected to be released in the first week of May.

