Turkey's opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) claimed yesterday that a recount of votes from Sunday’s local polls would reverse victory for the ruling party in the capital Ankara.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) largely dominated the electoral map on Sunday, keeping control of the main cities.

A reversal of the Ankara result would therefore be little more than a consolation prize for the CHP.

In Ankara, incumbent AKP mayor Melih Gokcek secured 44.6 per cent of the vote, against CHP nominee Mansur Yavas’s 43.8 per cent, according to provisional results.

Hundreds of volunteers have been recounting votes after widespread allegations of irregularities.

“We are confident that our candidate has won this race,” the CHP mayoral campaign said.

“They’re trying to take it from us by irregularities created in front of computer screens.”