Indonesia president cites indications of election win, urges unity

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Wednesday that vote “quick counts” indicated he had regained the presidency, but called on his supporters to wait for the election commission to announce official results.

Widodo is set to win the popular vote and is leading challenger Prabowo Subianto by between 7.5 and 11.6 percentage points, according to unofficial “quick counts” of a sample of votes by six pollsters.

"Indications from exit polls and quick counts, we have seen all, but we must be patient and wait for the KPU's (election commission's) official tabulation,” he told a news conference, during which he said the elections had been “honest and fair”.

"Let's all reunite as brothers and sisters, after the legislative and presidential election,” he said.

Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto speaks to the media after polls closed in Jakarta, Indonesia April 17, 2019. /Reuters Photo

The vote officially ended at 1:00 pm (0600 GMT) in Sumatra, although some of the 800,000 polling stations across the volcano-dotted nation remained open late due to delays and long queues.

Horses, elephants, motorbikes, boats and planes were pressed into service to get ballot boxes out across the vast country that is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages.

Widodo cast his ballot at a polling station in Jakarta, stoking upbeat stance in the polls.

"We are always optimistic at works," the president said after casting the ballot.

Prabowo cast his vote at a polling station in Bogor district of West Java province, also expressing his optimism to win the race.

"Optimism, we are optimistic to win 63 percent, that is our calculation," he said after casting the vote.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters