Paddy Iyamu Visits Oba Ewuare II, Seeks Royal Blessings for 2027 House Bid

Hon. Paddy Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress nominee for Oredo Federal Constituency, travelled to the palace of Oba Ewuare II in Benin City to seek the monarch's prayers and formal endorsement as he prepares his campaign for a House of Representatives seat in the 2027 general election. The visit, which included party officials and campaign supporters, also served as a public announcement of Iyamu's candidacy within the traditional setting of the Benin Kingdom.

During the meeting, Oba Ewuare II received Iyamu in a manner reflecting the customs and protocols of Benin tradition. The monarch offered prayers for the candidate's campaign and commended Iyamu for honouring the kingdom's values through the visit.

The Oba also stressed that electoral success depends not solely on any individual's efforts but on divine intervention and the will of voters. Iyamu used the occasion to extend felicitations to the Oba on marking a decade on the throne.

The visit reflects a pattern observed in Nigerian politics where candidates from major parties seek traditional rulers' blessings before launching electoral campaigns. Such engagements carry cultural significance in regions with entrenched monarchical institutions, particularly in the southwest and south-south.

The gesture typically signals respect for local authority and may be viewed as seeking community validation within the candidate's constituency. Iyamu's move comes as the APC and other parties intensify organisational activities ahead of the 2027 polls.

Political competition in Edo State has remained fierce, and candidates are employing various strategies to consolidate support at grassroots and institutional levels. The Oredo Federal Constituency remains a significant electoral zone in the state's political landscape.