[2] The elections were delayed by two weeks to avoid overlapping with the coronation of King Charles III.

This move had proved controversial, with the Vice President of Sinn Féin and First Minister-designate, Michelle O'Neill saying that it's "totally unacceptable" for the DUP to refuse to enter the Executive amid a crisis.

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) had accused the DUP of treating voters with contempt and "making our electoral process look like a bad joke"[8] and Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party, said DUP Assembly Members should not be allowed to claim their salary while they prevented the Assembly from functioning.

[11][12] Preliminary results showed Sinn Féin overtaking the DUP as the largest party in local government.

[14][15] As is common in Northern Ireland under the single transferable vote electoral system, ten of the eleven councils were under no overall control.

"A significant piece of work must be carried out to enhance unionist engagement with the political process – and in particular when it comes to elections.