Former CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel has denied claims that 86 lawmakers from Turkiye's main opposition party plan to defect to the Anatolia Union Party (ABP).

Axar.az reports, citing Haberler, that the allegations were made by ABP leader Bedri Yalcin, who claimed that "86 of these MPs will join us" and that around 74 CHP provincial chairpersons would also switch parties after talks with Ozel and other CHP figures.

Responding to the claims, Ozel rejected them outright.

"This news is not true," Ozel said when asked about the reported mass defections, dismissing the allegations that dozens of CHP lawmakers were preparing to join the ABP.