17.10.2026 11:31
AK Party Secretary General Eyyüp Kadir İnan reacted to New Party Leader Özgür Özel, who directed harsh criticism through İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay, who joined the AK Party from his party, with the words: "He should stay away from İzmir and Turkey; let him explain why he broke his foot in Manisa, we are warning him."
AK Party Secretary General and İzmir MP Eyyüp Kadir İnan reacted to New Party Chairman Özgür Özel over his remarks targeting İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who switched to the AK Party.
“LET HIM EXPLAIN WHY HE BROKE HIS LEG, WE ARE WARNING HIM”
Speaking to journalist Sinan Burhan, Eyyüp Kadir İnan said, “Özgür Özel is not in good psychological shape. He should stay away from İzmir and Türkiye. If we make a statement about Özgür Özel, it will become a road from here to space. Let him explain why he broke his leg in Manisa; we are warning him on this matter.”
HOW DID THE ARGUMENT START?
New Party Chairman Özgür Özel answered questions about Cemil Tugay, who resigned from the CHP and joined the AK Party, on the Çalar Saat program he appeared on NOW TV on the morning of October 16. Özel said, “I feel nauseated, my hair stands on end. Let these general elections and the change of power happen. I know with what motive he went there. If I do not question him thoroughly about that account on the same motive and make him pay through the nose, I am dishonorable.”
“THE ONE WHO SEES İZMİR AS BOOTY”
AK Party Secretary General and İzmir MP Eyyüp Kadir İnan, reacting to Özel’s remarks from his X account, accused Özel of seeing İzmir as a “right of the sword.” İnan said, “Özgür Özel, enemy of İzmir, who says ‘İzmir is my right of the sword’ and regards İzmir as booty… Don’t make us have you explain whom you nominated where, with what ‘motives’ and for what calculations!”
“İZMİR IS NOT YOUR TITLED PROPERTY”
Claiming that Özel is trying to hold İzmir hostage to his political calculations, İnan said, “İzmir was not and will not be a city where you make bribery bargains or hold it hostage to your political calculations! You cannot see this city as your titled property or its mayors as your orderlies. You cannot establish personal tutelage over the will of the people of İzmir!”