Striking results from Gezici Research's Istanbul poll! Ekrem İmamoğlu or Murat Kurum?

With only a few days left until the local elections, public opinion research companies have accelerated their polling efforts.

As the final two weeks begin, all eyes are on Istanbul for the critical elections.

In Istanbul, where 22 political parties and 30 independent candidates will be on the ballot, the race is expected to be between Murat Kurum, the candidate of the People's Alliance formed by the AKP and MHP, and the current IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the candidate of the CHP.

Most recently, the results of the election poll conducted in Istanbul by the Gezici Research Center have emerged.

Appearing as a guest on the Gürkan Hacır'la Taksim Meydanı program, Gezici Research Center President Murat Gezici stated that People's Alliance IMM candidate Murat Kurum is leading the race in Istanbul. Murat Gezici alleged that he has faced pressure and persecution from the CHP side due to the poll in question.

The results announced by Gezici are as follows;

• Murat Kurum: 44.1 percent
• Ekrem İmamoğlu: 43.5 percent
• Meral Danış Beştaş and Murat Çepni: 4.1 percent
• DEM Party Co-Mayoral candidates Meral Danış Beştaş and Murat Çepni: 4.1 percent
• Azmi Karamahmutoğlu: 3.1 percent
• Mehmet Altınöz: 2.3 percent
• Buğra Kavuncu: 1.7 percent
• Other: 1.2 percent

"I AM CONFIDENT, THE GAP WILL WIDEN TO 1.8"

"I am very confident, the results on March 31 will be similar to this picture," said Gezici, adding that Kurum would widen the vote gap to 1.8 percent.

Gezici stated, "Researchers create a sample and you say, 'Conduct a survey in this district, this neighborhood, these streets,' and the young person goes and conducts the research. They ask the person there, 'Do you live here?' and start asking questions. Researchers overlook this; there is actually a group that evaluates this within the margin of error, but scientifically it needs to be separated. That is why I did this according to the rule they use; it comes out as 44.1, but I am confident that the gap will widen to 1.8," he said.

PREFERENCE OF YRP VOTERS

Regarding the preference of New Welfare Party (YRP) voters in the local elections, Gezici said, "I ask those who vote for the New Welfare Party a question: 'Who is your second choice?' We see that 92 percent say they would vote for Murat Kurum. When we ask, 'If you had to choose between the two, who would you want to win?', the rate of those saying Murat Kurum reaches 84 percent."

"İMAMOĞLU HAS DECLINED FROM 47 PERCENT TO 43.5 PERCENT"

In response to Hacır's question, "You conducted this research; was there a previous study you conducted for Istanbul, has the picture changed much?" Gezici replied, "There are 3 of them, it has changed a lot. Mr. Ekrem was ahead, but Murat Kurum has come up step by step in 3 different studies. We see that in the last 3 studies, Ekrem İmamoğlu has declined from 47 percent to 43.5 percent."

After announcing these poll results, Murat Gezici made a very notable claim. Gezici said that he faced great pressure from people around IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu because they showed Murat Kurum 0.6 points ahead in the poll. Murat Gezici stated, "I have never witnessed Mr. Erdoğan or those around him threatening us or brandishing a stick. But I have seen great pressure from those around Ekrem İmamoğlu regarding this result. We received a reaction I have never seen in my life. This is worrying. If the slogan 'Full Speed Ahead' is for 2028, I am concerned. To face pressure, persecution, and insults in this country just because you showed Murat Kurum 0.6 points ahead is inhumane."