Erdogan’s Candidate Concedes Defeat In Istanbul Vote

Binali Yildirim, the ruling party candidate in the controversial re-run of Istanbul’s mayoral election, conceded defeat on Sunday. Advertisement Initial results from the state-run … Continue reading Erdogan’s Candidate Concedes Defeat In Istanbul Vote

By Ignatius Igwe

Updated June 23, 2019

(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 31, 2019 Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul mayoral defeated candidate Binali Yildirim speaks to media members as he arrives to the headquarters of the AKP in Istanbul. Since the re-run was called for June 23, 2019 Binali Yildirim, a former prime minister and loyal lieutenant to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since the 1990s, has been a visible presence, attending rallies and television shows, and even visiting a major Kurdish city in a bid to reach out to the Kurdish community, which in Istanbul numbers in the millions. OZAN KOSE / AFP

Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul mayoral defeated candidate Binali Yildirim speaks to media members as he arrives to the headquarters of the AKP in Istanbul. OZAN KOSE / AFP

Binali Yildirim, the ruling party candidate in the controversial re-run of Istanbul’s mayoral election, conceded defeat on Sunday.

Initial results from the state-run Anadolu news agency showed opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu leading with 53.69 per cent to Yildirim’s 45.4 per cent with more than 95 per cent of ballots counted.

“According to the result as of now, my competitor Ekrem Imamoglu is leading the race. I congratulate him and wish him good luck,” Yildirim said.

AFP