Au contraire–he won 100% of the vote!
Which is also why colonel is the highest rank in the Libyan military. Even if you’re commanding a corps, you can’t outrank the big dog.
And part of the reason he didn’t name himself Presidente was to mark that his rule was a temporary dictatorship, not a long-term form of government. The “temporary” was initially supposed to lead to a restoration of rule-of-law within a republican framework and in a very short time, but needing Carlista support derailed the republican part and other political and economical realities further changed the plans; “temporary” ended up being “for life” and the restoration, to monarchy. Spanish dictators are perfectly happy calling their dictatorship a dictatorship, but like the original Roman dictatorships, ours are assumed temporary. Many of those who call themselves President(e) are both initially-elected and intending to hold onto the big seat for themselves, their children and the children of their children… through legitimate elections, of course! cough cough
Pinochet did.