23.08.2026 22:10
Sakarya Deputy Ümit Dikbayır, who resigned from the CHP and declared his support for New Party Chairman Özgür Özel, confirmed the claims that he would join the AK Party. Dikbayır said, 'Mr. President invited me, received me at the Presidential Complex, listened to my thoughts, and showed an extremely courteous approach throughout our meeting. He conveyed the invitation to join the AK Party. I said, 'I need to consult; the joining could take place on August 14.' Those who are angry with me are quite right.'
A surprising statement came from Sakarya Deputy Ümit Dikbayır, who resigned from CHP after the court's absolute nullity decision and then declared his support for Özgür Özel. Dikbayır, who released a video, confirmed the AK Party claims. Stating that he went to the Presidential Complex upon invitation and held a meeting with President Erdoğan, Dikbayır said that those who were angry with him were absolutely right.
"I SEE THAT SOME OF MY FRIENDS ARE HURT"
Dikbayır used the following statements in his statement: "Dear citizens, I greet each and every one of you with love and respect. Today, I want to speak to you with all my heart. First of all, I want to state this; I am aware that I have unintentionally upset the people who love me, trust me, and have stood by me for years. I see that some of my friends, comrades-in-arms, and fellow citizens are hurt, surprised, and resentful towards me in the face of what has happened. I do not ignore these feelings; on the contrary, I understand them all, take them seriously, and fully agree with them.
"I SHOULD HAVE EXPLAINED EARLIER AND MORE CLEARLY"
Perhaps I should have explained some things earlier and more clearly. I should have better calculated how my communication mistake might be received by the public. Therefore, I feel a responsibility to explain myself to the people who love me and expect a certain political stance from me. I know this is a debt and an obligation on me. That is why I am here before you today. I just want to tell what I experienced as it is and to tell the truth with all my sincerity.
"I ACCEPTED ERDOĞAN'S INVITATION"
As you know, I resigned from the Republican People's Party and made the necessary statement when I did. Actually, I wanted to stop and think for a while, to evaluate how I could best fulfill my responsibility towards my country, my nation, and the people I represent. After my resignation, AK Party Konya Deputy Mr. Ünal Karaman met with me. He said that the President wanted to meet with me and had an invitation. I of course accepted this invitation. Because my 35 years of political upbringing requires this. Our political views may differ, we may not be in the same party, we may criticize each other for the benefit of the country, but if the President of the Republic of Türkiye invites you to talk, you go and meet. I did just that.
"THE PRESIDENT INVITED ME TO THE AK PARTY"
In our meeting with the President, he expressed his opinion and invitation for me to join the AK Party. I clearly told him; 'This is not a decision I can make alone and all of a sudden, Mr. President,' I said. I stated that I needed to talk to my family, and that I could not make such a decision without consulting my comrades-in-arms, my team, and the people whose responsibility I carry. It was also discussed that if the mutual evaluations concluded positively, there could be a participation on August 14.
However, I want to particularly emphasize an important point here. As I left that meeting, we parted saying 'may it be auspicious.' I was evaluating this within myself. Can I contribute from within to the improvement of some issues I have criticized in the opposition for years? Can I defend the truths I believe in there in the same way? And most importantly, where can I be more useful to my country? Perhaps these were the questions on my mind. From the first day I entered politics until today, I have never given up on Atatürk, the Republic, and the values I believe in. I will never give them up from now on either. For me, the main issue is how useful I can be to this country and our nation wherever I am.
However, while I was still evaluating all this, our meeting was reflected in the public, and an atmosphere was created as if I had made my decision and my joining the AK Party was finalized. This is where the most difficult and sad part of the matter began. I could not come out and say there is no such thing, because there had been a meeting, and there had been an invitation from the President. Telling a meeting that happened as if it hadn't happened would not have suited me anyway. But when I didn't deny it, I again appeared before people as if I were the owner of a decision I hadn't made yet.
Looking back today, I also want to say one thing with all my sincerity. I understand the people who are angry with me; they are very right. I understand that people who have known me for years on a certain political line, listened to what I said, and followed my struggle, are surprised, hurt, and even angry at such news. Especially if the process was reflected in the public with incomplete information and different narratives, I don't put all those reactions in the same basket anyway. I also greatly, greatly value the words of people who sincerely say, 'We didn't know you like this' and resent me. Because I know that under that reaction lies the trust they have had in me for years and a political stance they expect from me. They are also right in this; this cannot be ignored. I have also taken my share from this, and I am taking it.
Perhaps I should have explained some things earlier. Perhaps I should have better calculated how some steps I took due to political courtesy could be perceived in the public. A person can make mistakes, make wrong decisions, and sometimes fail to express themselves correctly. I have never been a person who says 'I never make mistakes'. But I am very comfortable in one regard: I do not deceive people. I do not tell something that didn't happen as if it happened, or something that happened as if it never happened. Because today you may be in a position, tomorrow you may not be. These all come and go, but what remains is a person's word, their reputation, and their conscience.
In the subsequent process, some information also reached me that the chairman of a political party I previously did politics with objected to my joining the AK Party by meeting with the President, and that the process ended for this reason. I don't know how much of this is true. Frankly, I'm not interested in these rumors either. But I also want to acknowledge a right here. The President invited me, received me at the Presidential Complex, listened to my thoughts, and displayed an extremely kind approach during our meeting. Saying this is not a matter of political opinion for me, but a matter of courtesy. I want these words of mine to be understood within this framework.
I am only telling what I experienced. Because a lot has been said and written about me. Different stories have formed in people's minds. I also see telling my own story as I experienced it as a responsibility both to myself and to the public. I will continue to say what I know to be right throughout my life. I will also criticize what I see as wrong for the benefit of our country and our nation. My understanding of politics was like this yesterday and it is like this today. I did not give up these values yesterday, I am not giving them up today, and I will never give them up tomorrow.
I have also taken lessons from this process. If there are people I have hurt or upset, I understand their feelings. I also hear the words of those who are sincerely angry with me, criticize me, and resent me, and I fully agree with them.But let everyone be sure of this: I will not engage in politics by hiding the truth, deceiving people, or denying tomorrow what I said yesterday. The sole reason I stand before you today is exactly that. I simply wanted to tell the truth I have lived, from my own perspective and with all sincerity. The judgment of the rest, as always, belongs to our noble nation. I greet you all with love and respect.
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