On Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented Certificates of Return to senators-elect following the just concluded senatorial elections held on February 25. The Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, presented the certificates to the winners at the National Collation Centre, also known as the International Conference Centre, in Abuja.
Last Wednesday, the electoral body presented the certificates to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima. This presentation completes the certification process for Nigeria’s 10th Assembly.
According to the list provided by INEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 57 seats, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 29 seats. The Labour Party (LP) won six seats, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won two seats, and both the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) won one seat each. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) also won one seat.
The presentation of the Certificates of Return marks the end of the electoral process for Nigeria’s 10th Assembly. It is a crucial step in officially recognizing the winners of the elections and granting them the mandate to represent their respective constituencies in the Senate.
It is expected that the newly elected senators will play a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s legislative agenda in the coming years. The APC’s majority in the Senate will likely allow it to push through its legislative agenda more easily, while the PDP and other opposition parties will likely focus on providing checks and balances to the government’s actions.
