Sakarya MP Ümit Dikbayır confirms move to ruling AKP party

Independent Sakarya lawmaker Ümit Dikbayır has confirmed that he will join the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a move that had been circulating in political circles. Dikbayır, who previously resigned from the İYİ Party and briefly aligned with the Republican People's Party (CHP) before becoming an independent, stated that the AKP had extended an invitation to him previously. "They had invited me before, I waited," Dikbayır told Sözcü TV, confirming the "backroom information" about his impending transfer.

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They had invited me before, I waited.

The political maneuvering is expected to coincide with the AKP's founding anniversary on August 14, with reports suggesting that several mayors might also switch parties. However, the article notes that some within the AKP leadership are reportedly uncomfortable with the influx of new members through these transfers.

Dikbayır's decision to join the AKP marks a significant shift, especially given his past criticisms of the ruling party's policies. He had previously described the AKP's "Terörsüz Türkiye" (Turkey Without Terrorism) initiative as a "treason process under the guise of peace." In August 2025, he revealed on a TV program that the AKP had approached him three times, but he had resisted, stating, "I do not find it right to take the opposition's votes and carry them to the government. I am someone who has fought against policies whose practices I have criticized for years, policies that rob citizens of their rights. I cannot be a part of that structure."

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This process is not a peace process; on the contrary, it is a treason process carried out under the guise of peace.

The decision of İYİ Party Gaziantep lawmaker Mehmet Mustafa Gürban, who was also rumored to be joining the AKP, remains uncertain. Dikbayır's move is likely to be closely watched as the political landscape continues to shift.

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The AK Party invited me three times. I do not find it right to take the opposition's votes and carry them to the government. I am someone who has fought against policies whose practices I have criticized for years, policies that rob citizens of their rights. I cannot be a part of that structure.