A new obstacle appears to be emerging for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s presidential bid. According to reports from the Hurriyet newspaper, the Public Administration School of Istanbul University is expected to annul his degree as early as today or Monday.

In an article for the pro-government Hurriyet, journalist Abdulkadir Selvi—who has close ties to the presidential palace—claims that Istanbul University is set to finalize its report on İmamoğlu’s degree and submit it to the Business Administration School. The administration will then decide on the validity of the degree, possibly within the day or by Monday.

The mayor of Istanbul’s metropolitan municipality faces charges of “forgery of official documents” following a report by Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK). The report states that İmamoğlu’s 1990 transfer to Istanbul University’s Business Administration School was unlawful, meaning his degree should be revoked.

If his degree is annulled, Ekrem İmamoğlu will be barred from running for the presidency, as a higher education degree is a constitutional requirement for the office.

The leader of Turkey’s largest metropolitan municipality and the strongest presidential hopeful from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) faces multiple trials, with cumulative prison sentences exceeding 23 years. His political rights have been threatened five times so far.

The CHP’s internal elections to select its next presidential candidate are set for March 23. If the national elections are not held early, they are scheduled for 2028. İmamoğlu is seen as the opposition’s most formidable contender against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Speaking at an inauguration ceremony in Istanbul today, Ekrem İmamoğlu declared that no one would be able to “trip him up” and challenged Erdoğan to face him at the ballot box with courage.

İmamoğlu’s Defiant Statement

“They think they’ll trip up Ekrem, block Ekrem, pull off one scheme after another… My hair doesn’t even budge. Cowards try to scare us. But we are not afraid, and we don’t intimidate anyone.

All we ask for is the ballot box. Come, let’s settle our accounts like men at the polls!

I am on the road to the presidency with determination, and no one will be able to stop me. After March 23, we will all celebrate Bayram (Eid) together in a joyous atmosphere!”