By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY

THE Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpo Ewuare II on Friday received the former House of Representatives member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama who emerged as the Edo South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his palace in Benin, where he offered prayers and called for peace and unity among members of the party.

Ogbeide-Ihama polled the highest votes in the recently conducted APC National Assembly primary election for Edo South Senatorial District but his name and others are yet to be officially announced by the leadership of the party.

During the visit, Ogbeide-Ihama presented the official result sheet of the primary election to the monarch.

In the entourage of the visit were the Deputy Governor of the state, Honourable Dennis Idahosa, former deputy governor of the state and the Leader of the APC in Edo South, Hon Pius Odubu.

Others included State chairman and Secretary of the party, Emperor Jarret Tenebe and Lawrence Okah, former deputy governor, Hon Lucky Imasuen, Sen Matthew Uroghide, Major Charles Airiavbere (rtd) among others.

Apparently reacting to the controversy that has trailed the exercise, Oba Ewuare II asked the state chairman of the party, Tenebe, “I hope this is not AI generated?” a statement that generated laughter in the palace and the chairman answered no.

Speaking, Odubu told the Oba that Ogbeide-Ihama emerged with the highest votes in the exercise conducted by the party and was subsequently issued a result sheet by the electoral officer, Mohammed Ajana.

He said the visit was to formally acquaint the monarch with the development and to seek his fatherly prayers and blessings as the political process progresses.

Addressing the palace, Ogbeide-Ihama said the primary election was conducted in accordance with the constitution, guidelines and procedures of the APC, adding that the party members freely voted in the exercise.

The monarch thanked the visitors for the courtesy call and urged politicians and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully, stressing that violence should have no place in the state’s political landscape.

Oba Ewuare II further appealed to aggrieved members of the APC to embrace reconciliation and work together for the progress of Edo South Senatorial District and Edo State, noting that peace and unity remained essential for development.

Speaking to journalists outside the palace, Ogbeide-Ihama said “The party (APC) formally presented me to my father, our father, His Majesty, as the Edo South Senatorial candidate and it served as an opportunity for me to show my father the result as declared by the committee sent by the National Headquarters to conduct that primary.

“I showed my father the result, he had a look at it and what we await now is what every other senatorial candidate in the 109 senatorial districts across this country awaits, which is usually issued at the National Headquarters.”