Andi Hajramurni, Makassar, South Sulawesi – Hundreds of people blockaded the road connecting Gowa regency and Makassar on Thursday in a bid to foil a planned inauguration ceremony of reelected regent Ichsan Yasin Limpo and his running mate Abdul Razad Badjidu.

The mass, mostly supporters of losing candidate Andi Maddusila Andi Idjo and his running mate Jamaluddin Rustam, took a fuel tanker belonging to state oil and gas company PT Pertamina and an operational car of state bus company Damri. The protesters parked the two vehicles in the middle of the road, blocking the traffic from and to Gowa. Local police rerouted the traffic due to the blockade.

Rally coordinator Karaeng Moncong said the people took to the streets as they were disappointed by the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold the victory of Ichsan, who is a brother of South Sulawesi governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo, in the June 23 election. The court rejected a complaint by Maddusila and Jamaluddin over the election results, as it was filed behind the deadline.

The home minister has ordered an inauguration of the winning pair, who were nominated by the Golkar Party, although the local police are still investigating an alleged school diploma forgery involving Ichsan.

Gowa election commission member Sudirman told the people the inauguration ceremony could not be canceled as the Constitutional Court had validated Ichsan's reelection. He added that the election result would stand despite the police investigation.