Imamoglu, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), having depicted the rerun as "a battle for democracy said the win marks new beginning for Turkey"
"This is not just an election for mayor of Istanbul — it is a day to amend injustices," the 49-year-old said.
Ekrem Imamoglu took the lead over the ruling party candidate in the repeat race for Istanbul's mayor, according to initial results released on Sunday. Imamoglu secured 53.99% of the vote while his rival, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, garnered 45.11% of the vote with nearly 99% of the city's ballots counted, according to results posted on Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency.
Yildirim conceeded defeat in the election shortly after the first results were announced, saying: "I congratulate him and wish him success."
Election officials decided to cancel the results of the first vote in March after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) alleged that there had been cases of vote rigging and corruption.
Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu beat the AKP's candidate by just 13,000 votes in the first election. He ended up with 48.8% of the vote, while Yildirim, garnered 48.5%.
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