Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi signed the decree to remove Kirkuk Governor Necmedîn Kerim from office. The Iraqi Parliament has authorized Abadi to prevent the referendum, and after signing, Abadi sent the decree to the parliament to be approved.

Iraqi Parliamentary President Selim Cuburi’s Office issued a statement and said the decree signed by Abadi has reached them.

The Iraqi parliament’s session on September 12 rejected the upcoming Southern Kurdistan referendum with a majority vote and authorized Abadi to take precautions. Kurdish MPs in the Iraqi parliament had left the General Assembly in protest.

Some MPs in the Iraqi parliament had started a petition by late August to have Kerim removed from office. Kazim al-Seyyadi, member of State of Law Party led by former Iraqi president Nuri El Maliki, had said Necmedîn Kerim should be removed from office, while the Iraqi army and police should return to Kirkuk.