M. Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo appointed Nana Sudjana, the former chief of Metro Jaya regional police as the Acting Governor of Central Java. Nana is set to replace Ganjar Pranowo, the current governor who will step down on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Previously, Nana was removed from his position as chief of the regional police during the January-November 2020 period due to his inaction against the crowd surrounding Rizieq Shihab's residence at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It was decided [that Nana will be the Acting Governor] yesterday," according to the Senior Advisor in the Executive Office of the President, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, when asked to confirm on Friday, September 1, 2023.
After being removed from his position on November 15, 2020, Nana was appointed as the Coordinator of Expert Staff at the National Police headquarters. In February 2021, Nana was appointed to be the chief of the North Sulawesi Regional Police and was transferred to be chief of the South Sulawesi Regional Police several months later in October 2021. In April 2022, Nana was appointed as the Chief Inspector of the DPR Secretariat General.
Ngabalin said that Nana Sudjana will be inaugurated as the Acting Governor of Central Java by Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian on behalf of the president. Nana, Ngabalin added, is expected to lead the region in preparation for the 2024 general elections.
"Hopefully in this remaining time [Nana and other Acting Governors] will be able to prepare for the general election in each region," he said.
On September 5, 2023, there are 85 regional heads that will step down from office. In addition to Nana Sudjana, Jokowi also appointed nine other Acting Governors.