Peregraf - Mohammed Samaan Agha has been elected as the new governor of Kirkuk in a majority vote during tonight’s Provincial Council session.
A Turkmen politician now takes the post for the first time — a major shift in Kirkuk’s power balance.
The vote follows the resignation of Rebwar Taha (PUK) under a new political agreement involving Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen factions. The deal sees the PUK relinquish the governorship in exchange for key positions, including Assistant Governor, Kirkuk Police Director, and Daquq district mayor.
The Turkmen bloc, which had previously boycotted council sessions alongside the KDP and parts of the Arab bloc, returned under the agreement and secured the governorship.
The move is also seen as aligning with Turkey’s long-standing push for stronger Turkmen representation in Kirkuk, potentially carrying wider regional implications.