The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the outcome of the 2023 general election was as a fair reflection of a complex multi-party democracy despite the divergent opinions.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on Tuesday at a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.
He stressed that the purpose of the meeting was to reflect on the just concluded 2023 general election, following the conclusion of the election, saying the time has come for introspection, stocktaking, review and evaluation.
He recalled that elections were held for a total of 1,491 constituencies made up of one Presidential, 28 Governorship, 109 Senatorial, 360 Federal Constituencies and 993 State Assembly seats.
The chairman said the commission’s record shows that these elections have produced the most diverse outcomes ever recorded since 1999.
He noted that five political parties produced State Governors; seven parties won Senatorial seats, eight are represented in the House of Representatives and nine in State Houses of Assembly.
Yakubu added: “Clearly, the 10th National Assembly is certainly the most diverse in party representation since 1999. In some States around the country, different political parties controlled the legislative and executive arms of Government.
“What is clear from these records also is that the days of single party dominance of our national politics are probably gone. Furthermore, many prominent candidates lost in the constituencies they contested, and political parties lost in some of their presumed strongholds.
“Above all, despite the divergent opinions about the outcome of the election, the overall outlook suggests that it is a fair reflection of a complex multi-party democracy.”
The chairman said since the conclusion of the election, diverse opinions have been expressed by political parties, candidates, observers, analysts and the general public on aspects of the elections that took place in February and March.
According to him, Such diverse opinions should normally be expected, and the Commission welcomes all of them insofar as their purpose is to improve the future conduct of elections and to consolidate our democracy.
Yakubu stressed Commission has consciously not joined in these commentaries in the immediate aftermath of the election for several reasons.