CORRECTS - Despite withdrawal, votes for Turkish opposition candidate Ince valid: Election authority

On Friday, Muharrem Ince officially withdrew from presidential election set for Sunday

CORRECTION IN DECK OF INCE'S ACTIONS ON FRIDAY, ALSO REVISES PARA. 2

By Selma Kasap

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye’s election authority has affirmed the validity of votes for opposition candidate Muharrem Ince in Sunday’s election despite his last-minute withdrawal from the presidential race.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Supreme Election Council (YSK) Chairman Ahmet Yener said that they got Ince's petition on Friday to quit the race after he announced his decision a day earlier.

Yener said that in line with Article 12 of Law No. 6271, the board concluded that the votes cast for Ince should be accepted as valid.

Until Friday, Ince was one of four candidates in the presidential race including Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking reelection, main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and Sinan Ogan.

Despite Ince's withdrawal from the presidential race, his Homeland Party is still competing for seats in parliament.

On Sunday, Türkiye will go to polls to elect a president and also members of the 600-seat parliament.

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