However, as the lead narrowed and a blackout occurred over the reporting of new results, İmamoğlu overtook Yıldırım according to the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) on noon on 1 April.

Both candidates declared victory, with banners showing Yıldırım's image and the message 'thank you Istanbul' appearing in numerous places overnight.

[2] Following the conclusion of a full recount in Maltepe on 16 April, İmamoğlu was summoned by the electoral authorities to receive his certificate of election.

The nominee of the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) is Binali Yıldırım, a former Prime Minister of Turkey and the incumbent Speaker of the Grand National Assembly.

[5] On 18 December 2018, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) announced their candidate to be the serving Mayor of the district of Beylikdüzü, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

"[17] The Supreme Electoral Council has then accepted the extraordinary objection of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), and ordered a re-run of the elections with a majority vote of 7 against 4.

[18] The AKP claimed that around 11,000 voters had illegally transferred their residency to the district of Büyükçekmece in order to vote in the Istanbul elections.

Police subsequently began an operation in the district, taking the civil servant responsible into custody and raiding homes of alleged fraudulent voters.

Their actions were widely condemned due to the lack of solid proof of any wrongdoing, with some residents accusing the police of demanding them to reveal who they voted for.