Approaching the Musyawarah Daerah (Musda) DPD I of the Golkar Party in South Sulawesi, which is scheduled to take place at the end of January 2026, the internal political power map of the party with the banyan tree symbol is narrowing. The majority support of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) II in regencies and cities in South Sulawesi is increasingly directed towards Munafri Arifuddin, also known as Appi, the Chairman of DPD II of the Golkar Party in Makassar City. The consolidation wave at the regional level has intensified in the past few weeks, with each DPD II openly declaring their political stance through official party forums or internal communication. So far, 21 out of the total 24 DPD II of the Golkar Party in South Sulawesi have expressed their support for Appi to run as the candidate for Chairman of DPD I Golkar in South Sulawesi. This configuration of support positions Appi in a politically strong position or “above the wind.”
The seriousness of this situation has attracted the attention of political observers. Nurmal Idrus, Director of Nurani Strategic Consulting, views the majority support from DPD II for Munafri Arifuddin as a positive signal for the internal consolidation of the Golkar Party in South Sulawesi. This growing support demonstrates the collective desire to push for leadership regeneration within Golkar Sulsel. However, it is crucial to note that despite the strong DPD II support, Munafri Arifuddin should not overlook the crucial factor of the role of the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of the Golkar Party in Jakarta. The success of Appi in managing the DPD II of Golkar Makassar City and the city government has become a reference for other regions. Despite the mathematical support he has acquired, the political dynamics leading up to the Musda can still influence the final outcome. Nonetheless, the likelihood of Munafri Arifuddin winning the Musda Golkar Sulsel is currently in a very advantageous position.
In conclusion, with the massive and relatively rapid escalation of support, Appi’s chances of leading the Golkar Sulsel DPD I currently seem favorable. If political communication with the DPP Golkar is managed well, the opportunity for Appi to be elected by acclamation remains open. However, the central factor must be carefully analyzed and managed.
