It is recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tunji Olawuyi, as the winner of the election.
Governor Ahmed, who described the poll as a contest between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and security agents rather than among political parties, however, expressed confidence in the party’s victory.
However, the minister said that the APC’s victory in the election was the will of God and people’s determination to be free.
Speaking in his Oro country home during a victory rally organised by the APC supporters in the constituency on Sunday, the minister said that security operatives only discharged their duties professionally.
“One thing I requested from President Muhammadu Buhari before I left Abuja for the election is the provision of adequate security before, during and after the election. And the security agents discharged their duties professionally.
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“This accounted for the peaceful conduct of the election. I have been participating elections in the state since 2003, this has been one the most peaceful.
“Some PDP members were peddling rumours that I was going about with security agents to intimidate opponents. There is no truth in that.
“It was the will of the people that prevailed. God has turned the seemingly political impregnability of Saraki’s dynasty to foolishness. It was because people trooped out in large number to cast their votes. APC is God ordained for the state and the country.
“With this victory, you have broken the Berlin wall and same would repeat itself in 2019 elections.”
Earlier, state APC chair Hon Bashir Bolarinwa said the victory of the party portends a danger signal for PDP in 2019.
He added that the PDP is crying foul because it was caught pants down at the poll, saying that “Kwarans have spoken. They are tired of enslavement.”
Governor Ahmed, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr Muyideen Akorede, said reports available to him from the four local government areas in which elections were held, indicated harassment, arrests and intimidation of PDP members and supporters by security personnel.
He commended PDP members and supporters across the federal constituency for standing their ground and defying the threats posed by the security agents by coming out to exercise their franchise at the risk of harm and arrest.
He said the heightened fear and intimidation orchestrated against PDP members and supporters and abetted by security agents led to voter apathy and poor turn-out in the areas that are traditional strongholds of the party.
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