Iraq’s Saladin province sets governor election date

Shafaq News- Saladin

Iraq’s Saladin Provincial Council has set February 19 to elect a new governor for the north-central province, following the legal procedures governing nominations and voting, according to an official document.

In a letter signed on Thursday, Council Chairman Adel Abdul Salam Al-Sumaidaie fixed February 17 as the deadline for submitting applications, pursuant to Resolution No. 7 adopted during the council’s sixth extraordinary session on February 9 under the amended Law of Governorates Not Incorporated into a Region No. 21 of 2008.

The step follows Badr Al-Fahl’s constitutional oath as a member of Iraq’s Council of Representatives on Wednesday, after renewed controversy over the governorship.

Al-Fahl had resumed the governorship on February 9 after an administrative order revoked the mandate of acting governor Hashim Azzawi. Later the same day, the Saladin Provincial Council voted to remove Al-Fahl and reinstate Azzawi, arguing that Al-Fahl’s return contravened the law because he had been dismissed on January 26, 2026, upon assuming a parliamentary seat.

The controversy prompted the Parliament Speaker’s media office to issue a clarification on Tuesday, noting that the oath was administered in the presence of fewer lawmakers than required and outside a formally convened session, contrary to Article 50 of the Constitution and provisions of the Elections Law that require a legal quorum. It also confirmed that Al-Fahl had submitted a request to take the oath within the prescribed timeframe, at a time when parliament has been unable to meet to elect a president due to political divisions.