The Kirkuk Provincial Council has elected Qahtan Al-Wandawi, 51, who belongs to the Turkmen community, as the province’s new governor. His election came following a political understanding among the various political blocs, after the resignation of former Governor Mohammed Sam’an.
According to an agreement reached in August 2024, the positions of governor, Provincial Council chairman, and their deputies are to be distributed on a rotational basis among the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Taqadum (Progress) Party, and the Iraqi Turkmen Front ITF, with the support of the Babylon Movement, which holds one seat on the Council.
Last April, the governorship was transferred to the Iraqi Turkmen Front after being held by a Kurdish official for one year and eight months. Under the power-sharing arrangement, the position was allocated to the Front’s leader, Mohammed Sam’an, for an eight-month term. However, before completing his tenure, Sam’an was appointed as a minister in the government headed by Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi.
Following Sam’an’s resignation, the Turkmen community nominated another candidate to complete the remaining two months of its allocated term. As a result, Qahtan Al-Wandawi was elected governor of Kirkuk, a position he is expected to retain until the end of the current year. The governorship will subsequently be handed over to a representative of the Arab community under the political agreement.
Biography of Qahtan Al-Wandawi
- Full Name: Qahtan Wahbi Hassan Ali Al-Wandawi
- Year and Place of Birth: 1975, Tas'een neighborhood, Kirkuk.
- Education: Holds a master's degree in International Trade and Logistics and is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics.
- Place of Residence: Kirkuk, Iraq.
Political Career, Positions, and Electoral Background
- 2003–2010: Was actively involved in the Turkmen Front Student and Youth Union, contributing to organizational activities targeting Turkmen youth. During this period, he served as Vice President for Student Affairs and was a member of the Union’s Executive Bureau.
- 2010: Joined the Central Committee of the Iraqi Turkmen Front for the first time.
- 2011–2017: Alongside his organizational responsibilities, he managed several educational centers serving the Turkmen community.
- 2019: Was appointed Deputy Head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front’s Kirkuk branch, where he was responsible for organizational affairs.
- 2022–Present: Has served as head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front’s Kirkuk branch.
- 2025: Ran in the Iraqi parliamentary elections, receiving 11,257 votes and securing the second-highest vote count among candidates on his electoral list.
Throughout his political and professional career, Al-Wandawi has also attended numerous training programs and specialized courses in Iraq and abroad. These included programs organized by the Union of Turkish Municipalities, focusing on local administration, human development, political leadership, and governance.
