Turkey's ruling party to object invalid votes in Ankara

ANKARA

Turkey's ruling party said Monday it will object to invalid votes and irregularities in the capital Ankara during local elections.

"We have identified invalid votes and irregularities in most of the 12,158 polling stations in Ankara," Fatih Sahin, general secretary of Justice and Development (AK) Party, said after Sunday's polls.

"We will use our legal rights to the fullest, and we will not allow the will of our citizens to be altered in Ankara," Sahin said on Twitter.

Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes in the local elections to choose Turkey’s mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils for the next five years.

Mansur Yavas, mayoral candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara, is leading the race with 50.9 percent of votes, according to unofficial results, with Mehmet Ozhaseki, AK Party’s candidate, trailing at 47.06 percent.