“The process is still ongoing. The recount of the invalid votes in 11 districts is over. The difference [between Imamoglu and Binali Yildirim] is 19,552,” Imamoglu told a press conference in the late afternoon in Istanbul.

The recount of all votes in three districts is still underway, he said.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) issued an appeal to the provincial bodies of the Supreme Election Board (YSK) for a recount of invalid votes in some districts of Istanbul and the recount of all votes in all districts, claiming there were irregularities when registering and counting the votes.

The vote difference between the AKP’s Yıldırım and the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Imamoglu was only around 20,000.

Imamoglu said that the vote recounting will show that the difference in votes between him and his rival will remain the same.

Reporter’s code: 50101