Iraq’s Al-Muthanna elects new governor after contested resignation

Shafaq News- Al-Muthanna (Updated at 16:45)

Al-Muthanna’s Provincial Council on Tuesday elected Ahmed Munfi Jawda as governor with 10 of 12 votes, replacing Muhannad Al-Atabi, Shafaq News correspondent reported.

A source told our agency the session amounted to a “coup” against the National Approach (Al-Nahj Al-Watany) bloc’s agreed share of the governorship under a political deal. The bloc’s candidate was Tawfiq Mohammed Al-Hassani, secretary-general of the National Approach in Al-Muthanna.

The council had earlier announced that Al-Atabi submitted his resignation ahead of a scheduled questioning session over alleged financial and administrative violations and that it had been accepted. Al-Atabi, however, disputed this account, stating in a video message that he arrived for the February 24, 2026 session but found no legally convened meeting or formal procedures in place. He challenged the validity of the reported resignation and requested clarification regarding any official documentation.