Nineveh council member warns of 'political blockade' over committee votes

MOSUL, Iraq — A member of the Nineveh provincial council and the United Nineveh Alliance has accused the council of blocking her right to vote and nominate candidates during a session on reshuffling committee chairmanships. Sajida al-Ifandi said at a press conference in Mosul that the agenda called for redistributing committee chair positions according to political blocs' electoral shares and consensus, but she was hospitalized during the session for a health issue and denied entry to vote when she returned. Al-Ifandi said she presented a medical report but was still prevented from submitting nominations for the committees. She warned that the United Nineveh Alliance's share of committee chairmanships must be preserved, and that the lack of consensus could lead to sharp divisions among the political blocs in the council. The lawmaker said the alliance would consider recourse to the Iraqi judiciary to restore its rights and correct the proceedings if the blocs' entitlements are not fully recognized. No further details on the council's next steps were immediately available.