Jakarta. Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has reportedly declined an offer from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to run as their gubernatorial candidate for West Java, just hours before the candidate registration deadline on Thursday evening.

"Anies won’t be running in West Java," his spokesman, Sahrin Hamid, confirmed via a text message.

Earlier in the day, PDI-P’s West Java chapter executives had disclosed that the party had extended the gubernatorial offer to Anies. However, as the registration deadline approached -- just before 10 p.m., two hours before it closed -- he had yet to provide a definitive response.

Had Anies accepted the offer, he would have needed to appear at the West Java General Election Commission before midnight to complete his registration. Additionally, he would have been required to submit a Criminal Record Check from the South Jakarta District Court to satisfy administrative requirements.

Reports earlier suggested that Anies had sought PDI-P's backing for another term in Jakarta, but the party ultimately chose its own executives as candidates for both gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial posts in the capital.

Sahrin clarified that Anies’ original intent was to run for the gubernatorial election in Jakarta, not West Java.

“There is a strong public demand for Brother Anies to compete in Jakarta, whereas no such demand has been expressed by the community or political parties in West Java,” Sahrin said, explaining Anies' rationale for declining the PDI-P's offer without directly naming the party.

“Brother Anies is grateful to the party for offering him the opportunity to run in West Java. However, after careful consideration, he has decided not to pursue it.”

Sahrin added that Anies plans to address the media on Friday to further explain the dramatic events leading up to the registration deadline.

Earlier in the day, PDI-P executive Folmer Silalahi revealed that the party had approached Anies with the suggestion that he run for West Java governor alongside Ono Surono, the chairman of PDI-P’s West Java chapter.

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