TheCable

Turkish President Recep Erdogan has won his re-election bid for a historic third term.

Erdogan defeated Kemal Kilicdaroglu, his rival, in a runoff election on Sunday after neither candidate achieved the required 50 percent to clinch the presidency outright.

However, in the runoff, Erdogan scored 52.14 percent of the votes, leaving Kilicdaroglu with 47.86 percent.

The 69-year-old’s victory has extended his rule into a third decade.

Voters had expressed concerns over the country’s economic crisis and sky-high inflation which skyrocketed under his watch.

TheCable had also reported how residents had expressed displeasure over the government’s handling of the earthquakes in February that left at least 50,000 people dead.

Speaking to supporters in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, Erdogan said now was the time to “put aside all the debates and conflicts regarding the election period and unite around our national goals and dreams”.

“We are not the only winners, the winner is Turkey. The winner is all parts of our society, our democracy is the winner,” he said.

Erdogan said part of the government’s main priorities would be fighting inflation and healing the wounds from the catastrophic earthquakes.

World leaders have since congratulated the Turkish president following his victory at the polls.

In a statement released by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari said Erdogan’s re-election will positively impact relations between Nigeria and Turkey.

“I welcome the re-election of Erdogan, a steadfast champion of a fair and just global order and a true friend of Nigeria,” Buhari said.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, I say happy cheers my friend and a true friend of Nigeria. Under your leadership, the engagement between our two nations will grow from strength to strength.

“I wish you yet another successful tenure of office.”

Other global leaders and bodies who have felicitated Erdogan include United States President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rishi Sunak, prime minister of the United Kingdom, the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).