Ekrem İmamoğlu, Turkey's main opposition challenger to Erdoğan, remains defiant from prison, claiming he is the legitimate candidate and criticizing the political motives behind his detention, which he believes aims to eliminate his candidacy and weaken opposition support ahead of the 2028 elections. Despite legal and institutional hurdles, he continues campaigning online and maintains support from a broad segment of Turkish society, emphasizing the importance of justice and democratic principles.
Turkish prosecutors have accused Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of over 142 corruption charges, demanding a sentence exceeding 2,000 years in prison, amid allegations of a political crackdown by authorities opposed to his opposition party, CHP, with Imamoglu currently in pre-trial detention.
Turkish President Erdogan is vying to regain control of Istanbul from his key rival, Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in the upcoming local elections. The outcome of the elections could reinforce Erdogan's power or signal a shift in Turkey's political landscape. Economic issues, Kurdish and Islamist voters, and the collapse of the opposition alliance are expected to influence the results, with Imamoglu aiming to become a future national leader if he wins.
