ISTANBUL, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Istanbul University annulled the undergraduate diploma of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Tuesday, citing "absence" and "clear error" as the reasons for the decision.

The university stated on its website that all documents related to this decision would be promptly sent to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Council of Higher Education.

This decision followed an investigation launched by the prosecutor's office, which was initiated after reports alleged that Imamoglu's diploma was fake.

Imamoglu made a statement on the social media platform X, describing the decision as "unlawful" and saying the university does not have the authority to make such a decision.

With the annulment of his diploma, Imamoglu's presidential candidacy is now in jeopardy, as according to Turkish law, a presidential candidate must first be a university graduate.

In February, the mayor officially applied to his Republican People's Party (CHP) to become the opposition party's presidential candidate. CHP is expected to announce its presidential candidate at its congress on Sunday, following a vote by party members.

Türkiye held presidential and parliamentary elections in May 2023. Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, representing the ruling Justice and Development Party and its alliance, won re-election with 52.18 percent of the vote in a runoff against CHP's former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who was the joint candidate of the six-party Nation Alliance.

The next presidential elections will be held in 2028. Enditem

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