4 people detained 2 days before: Istanbul Governor's Office issues statement on election disputes in Üsküdar
The detention of four municipal council members two days before the upcoming deputy mayor election in Üsküdar has sparked controversy. The Istanbul Governor's Office has issued a statement regarding the matter.
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Operations targeting the municipality have returned to the agenda two days before the deputy mayor election at Üsküdar Municipality is set to be repeated. As part of the investigation in which Mayor Sinem Dedetaş was arrested and suspended from duty, Üsküdar Municipal Council Member Ekrem Baki and one other person were detained this morning.
With the detention of Baki, who was involved in politics within the AKP for many years before leaving his party to join the CHP in May 2025, the number of municipal council members currently in custody who are eligible to vote in the deputy mayor election has risen to four.
A day earlier, Üsküdar Deputy Mayors Amine Cansu Çelik and Mithat Özdemir had also been detained to provide their statements. The 1st Deputy Speaker of the Council, Ali Aral, and Deputy Mayor Nihat Doğan were released following their statements to the prosecutor's office.
The fact that the operations coincided with the period immediately preceding the deputy mayor election, scheduled for Saturday, September 5, has intensified political debates. The Istanbul Governor's Office responded to the discussions regarding the determination of the meeting date with a written statement.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE STATEMENT ON ELECTION DATE
The Governor's Office statement indicated that the Üsküdar Municipal Council was called to a meeting for the deputy mayor election on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in accordance with Article 45 of the Municipal Law No. 5393.
"It has been observed that some media outlets and social media accounts have included claims that our Governor's Office determined the meeting date in a way that would provide an advantage to a political party in the election. These claims carry no meaning beyond the intent to manipulate the ongoing election process."
The statement noted that the same article of the law includes a provision requiring the governor to ensure the municipal council meets within 10 days if the mayoral office becomes vacant for any reason.
The statement from the Governor's Office is as follows:
"As the Istanbul Governor's Office, in accordance with our obligation arising from Article 45 of the Municipal Law No. 5393, we called the Üsküdar Municipal Council to a meeting for the deputy mayor election on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
It has been observed that some media outlets and social media accounts have included claims that our Governor's Office determined the meeting date in a way that would provide an advantage to a political party in the election.
These claims carry no meaning beyond the intent to manipulate the ongoing election process.
As the Istanbul Governor's Office, we announced to the public with our press release dated August 26, 2026, who would carry out the duties of the Üsküdar Mayor's Office until a new deputy mayor is elected, in accordance with Article 45 of the Municipal Law No. 5393.
Article 45 of the Municipal Law No. 5393, titled 'Procedures to be followed in case of vacancy in the mayor's office,' states: 'In the event that the mayor's office becomes vacant for any reason, the governor shall ensure that the municipal council meets within ten days.' In accordance with subparagraph (b) of the first paragraph of the same article, if the mayor is suspended or arrested, the municipal council elects a deputy mayor from among its members."
CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir, in a press conference held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), argued that the purpose of the operations against Üsküdar Municipality was to seize control of the municipality. Emir noted that CHP council members were pressured during the previous election process and that attempts were made to influence the votes.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
Following Dedetaş's arrest, the Üsküdar Municipal Council met on August 5, and the CHP candidate Sibel Tan Çetinkaya was elected deputy mayor with 22 votes. The AKP Group objected to the validity of some ballots; the Istanbul 2nd Administrative Court issued a stay of execution regarding the election process.
Following the court's decision, it was decided that the deputy mayor election would be repeated on Saturday, September 5. The Governor's Office had announced that the duties of the mayor's office would be carried out by the 1st Deputy Speaker of the Üsküdar Municipal Council until a new deputy mayor is elected.