26.04.2026 23:27
CHP Şehitkamil District Chairman Hurşit Yıldırım, in a press conference he organized, harshly criticized his party and announced his resignation, stating that the decision is irreversible. Yıldırım said, 'I resign from my position as the district chairman of the Republican People's Party. They have parceled out the CHP. We won the election, but a week before the election, they said, 'this man is going to die, don't vote for him.'
Republican People's Party (CHP) Gaziantep Şehitkamil District Chair Hurşit Yıldırım held a press conference to protest intimidation policies against the party. He made striking statements by describing the events within the party.
"THEY SAID ABOUT ME: 'THIS MAN WILL DIE, DON'T VOTE FOR HIM'"
Speaking harshly at the press conference he organized, Hurşit Yıldırım said: "I have been serving as the District Chair of Gaziantep's Şehitkamil district since 2023. We had an election in 2025, the district chair election. Before this election, when the mayor made mistakes, I said I would continue in politics even if I were ill. I underwent major surgery and had lung cancer. I received treatment thanks to God first, then the doctors. But they told me absolutely not to get stressed, so I said let a young colleague become district chair. Then they said we do politics with our family. In Gaziantep public opinion, it is the people who save the Republican People's Party. We won the election, but a week before the election, they said 'this man will die, don't vote for him.' Those who said this are people who create tourism and rent for themselves in offices and want to steer politics. The Republican People's Party no longer has such a luxury. You cannot sit in a garden house or mountain house and direct Gaziantep from a table. You must be among the people."
"THEY HAVE PARCELED OUT THE CHP"
Claiming that party members have parceled out the CHP and stating that what was done to Şehitkamil Mayor Umut Yılmaz while in the party was also done to him, Yıldırım said: "They have parceled out the Republican People's Party so much that the brother-in-law is a member of parliament, the father-in-law is a member of parliament, the father is a member of parliament, the son is a member of parliament, the stepfather is a member of parliament, the relative by marriage is a member of parliament. What is going on? The Republican People's Party is nobody's father's property. I did not allow this. They tried every kind of sabotage and provocative attempt against me. I did not allow them. But I can no longer bear it. Today, here, until this hour, I am revealing something no one knows. After what was done to Umut Yılmaz, I said, 'Oh my, how did this man endure what was done to him'."
"I RESIGN FROM MY POST AS CHP DISTRICT CHAIR"
Announcing his resignation from the CHP Şehitkamil District Chair during his speech, Hurşit Yıldırım said: "I am resigning from my post as the Republican People's Party district chair right now. You will be the first to learn in Turkey and Gaziantep. It's a shame, I am a human being. I served as a municipal council member in Şehitkamil for 10 years. No one can say Hurşit Yıldırım made a mistake. You can ask former chair Rıdvan. He is from the AK Party, I am from the Republican People's Party. But I am losing my health due to the oppression caused by some people who, for the sake of deputy mayor positions or to constantly humiliate the Republican People's Party district chair, spin intrigues, and council members who speak differently alongside AK Party mayors and differently when they go to the Republican People's Party. Therefore, I resign from the Republican People's Party. No one knows about this, not even my executive colleagues. I am offended with the party."
##19776591##
"THE MEHTER MARCH IS ALSO INDISPENSABLE TO US"
Also reacting to CHP members turning their backs on a children's mehteran team on April 23, Yıldırım said: "I was not there. But just as the National Anthem is indispensable to us, the Mehter March is also indispensable to us. I don't know much about the events there. Let me say this: no one should criticize children singing the Mehter March. Because we have our traditions, children can sing the Mehter March. But my resignation has nothing to do with that. My resignation is final. I used to say 'Umut, why did you leave,' but now I see the man was pressured. When I fell into this situation, I said oh no, I must also leave. So those colleagues sent me off too. They achieved their goals."
"THE HEADQUARTERS NEVER ASKED US"
Finally, criticizing the CHP headquarters, Hurşit Yıldırım added that some council members misled the headquarters, that the center remained silent about the events, and that they were never asked about what happened and no intervention was made.