Turkey's AK Party submits new petition to cancel Istanbul poll

By Ferdi Turkten and Aynur Ekiz</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Turkey's ruling party on Saturday appealed to Turkey’s election authority submitting a new petition including list of non-eligible voters with a view to cancel and renew last month's Istanbul poll.</p> <p>Speaking to Anadolu Agency, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's deputy chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz said 14,712 voters who were dismissed from public posts with a presidential decree were found out to have voted in Istanbul during March 31 local elections. </p> <p>Yavuz said AK Party submitted to Supreme Election Council the petition with the list of voters as an attachment to their extraordinary appeal submitted on April 16.</p> <p>Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide on March 31, in local elections to choose mayors, city council members, and other officials for the next five years. </p> <p>Ekrem Imamoglu of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Wednesday officially took office as mayor of Istanbul — a metropolis of 16 million people — but his election still faces legal challenges from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, citing illegalities at the polls.</p> <p>