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Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said no doubt, last week’s national elections raised a number of issues that require immediate, medium, and long-term solutions. The planning for the election was painstakingly done. However, its implementation came with challenges, some of them unforeseen.
Prof Mahmood Yakubu said this during his 3rd meeting with all State Resident Electoral Commissioners, including FCT on Saturday in Abuja.
The purpose of the meeting is to to review performance and assess preparations and to discuss the conduct of the 2023 General Election, arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections held a week ago, and with the Governorship and State Assembly elections holding next week
He noted that the issues of logistics, election technology, behaviour of some election personnel at different levels, attitude of some party agents and supporters added to the extremely challenging environment in which elections are usually held in Nigeria
"We appreciate the sacrifice and doggedness of Nigerians and the dignity and maturity displayed by political leaders even in the context of divergent views about the election. A lot of lessons have been learnt.
"Of immediate concern to the Commission is how the identified challenges can be addressed as we approach the concluding phase of the General Election involving the largest number of constituencies i.e. 28 State Governorship elections and 993 State Houses of Assembly seats.
He adde that certificates of Return will be presented to Senators-elect on Tuesday 7th March 2023 at 11.00am at the National Collation Centre (the International Conference Centre), Abuja, while Members of the House of Representatives-elect will receive theirs the following day, Wednesday 8th March 2023, at 11.00am at the same venue.
Professor Yakubu noted that for effective crowd management, each Senator/Member-elect should be accompanied by a maximum of two guests.
He added that the comprehensive list of all members-elect will be uploaded to the Commission’s website shortly.
INEC boss said in the last Saturday’s elections, winners have also been declared for 423 national legislative seats while supplementary elections will be held in 46 constituencies. In the Senate, 98 out of 109 seats have been declared. So far, seven political parties have won senatorial seats while in the House of Representatives, 325 out of 360 seats have been won by eight political parties.
In terms of party representation, this is the most diverse national assembly since 1999 as can be seen from the tabular summary below:
Senate House of Reps
Party Seats Party Seats
APC 57 ADC 2
APGA 1 APC 162
LP 6 APGA 4
NNPP 2 LP 34
PDP 29 NNPP 18
SDP 2 PDP 102
YPP 1 SDP 2
YPP 1