Ex-AKP MP Ahmet Zenbilci Quietly Rejoins Party Months After Son’s Drug Scandal
Ahmet Zenbilci
After a seven-month hiatus following a scandal involving his son’s arrest for drug trafficking using a Turkish Parliament vehicle, Ahmet Zenbilci has quietly returned to the ranks of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The Adana MP, who had resigned from the party in September 2024, citing the need to protect his colleagues from reputational damage, is now once again officially listed on the AKP Parliamentary Group page on the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) website.
“I am stepping down to ensure the legal process involving my son doesn’t cast a shadow over my party or fellow colleagues,” Zenbilci had said when resigning after the incident.
A Return in Silence: From Absence to Prominence
Though publicly absent for several months, Zenbilci resurfaced in parliamentary sessions with AKP’s Adana delegation as early as December 2024, sparking speculation that his return was already underway behind the scenes.
In April 2025, he appeared at a religious event in Adana alongside the Governor, AKP officials, and Diyanet President Ali Erbaş, further solidifying rumors of his political comeback.
Officially Back in the Fold
Zenbilci’s recent participation in the 19th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, served as a clear confirmation of his reinstatement into the party’s official activities.
Though no formal announcement was made by AKP leadership, his role in representing Türkiye abroad indicates that his return is now both symbolic and operational.
A Controversial Comeback
Zenbilci’s quiet reentry into politics is already raising eyebrows, especially given the gravity of the scandal involving his son and a government-issued vehicle. Critics have questioned whether political accountability has been adequately observed, while his reappearance in the TBMM and international delegations suggests otherwise.
As of now, there has been no official statement from AKP leaders about his reinstatement.