Erdogan Surrenders, Praises Imamoglu for Victory in Istanbul

“IF Ekrem Imamoglu, who has won according to unofficial results,” wrote Erdogan on Twitter.

According to these results, Imamoglu has won 54% of the vote and ruling party candidate Erdogan AKP, Binali Yildirim, has already conceded defeat and praised his opponent.

Imamoglu won the March 31st elections and was mayor for 18 days, but the election commission cancelled the results due to irregularities.

The AKP still controls 25 out of 38 districts in Istanbul and has a majority in the city's assembly, the AP broadcasts.

Many think Istanbul's elections are a key test of the power of President Erdogan, who himself was mayor of Turkey's largest city from 1994 to 1998.