ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A court on Tuesday annulled the Istanbul provincial congress of Turkey’s main opposition party, citing alleged procedural irregularities in a decision that critics view as an escalating campaign to weaken the party.

The ruling against the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, led to the dismissal of Istanbul chair Ozgur Celik and other provincial administrators.

The decision followed a legal challenge seeking to nullify the CHP’s Istanbul congress on Oct. 8, 2023, claiming procedural violations. It comes just weeks before a separate court in Ankara is expected to rule on a similar case targeting the CHP’s main congress in 2023, which elected Ozgur Ozel as party leader.

A ruling against the CHP in that case could potentially reinstate its former leader, Kemal Kilicdaro

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