Prominent political gladiators from the ruling All Progressives Congress were on Monday absent at the 80th birthday celebration of the first National Chairman of the party, John Odigie Oyegun, which held in Benin, the Edo State capital.

But the national chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus and the Edo State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih were at the special church service held in honour of the octogenarian while former President Olusegun Obasanjo sent a representative and his goodwill message.

Prominent APC members absent at the occasion include President Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole among others.

Among the APC governors, only Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State was at the mass held for Oyegun at Saint Paul Catholic Church Airport Road.

However, prominent Edo indigenes including Governor Godwin Obaseki, former Edo State governor, Lucky Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Francis Okiye and the minister designate, Osagie Ehanire were at the occasion.