The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has condemned what it described as a cultural assault on the revered traditions of the Benin Kingdom, following the controversial inauguration of market leaders by a non-Benin woman at the Edo State Government House.
In a statement signed by the party’s publicity secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, the PDP accused Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration of complicity in what the Oba of Benin himself has denounced as an alien practice.
The party stressed that the Oba of Benin is the undisputed custodian of Edo culture and traditions, and that his pronouncements on native institutions are final. According to the PDP, any act that disrespects the Palace is a direct insult to every Edo man and woman.
The controversy erupted after an event allegedly backed by government officials sought to impose a “general market leader” structure on Benin markets. The PDP argued that such a move contradicts centuries-old customs, where each market selects its own Iyeki (market head), who is then confirmed by the Palace.
“The public staging of non-Edo songs, chants, and rituals during the so-called inauguration was not only insensitive but sacrilegious to our heritage,” the statement read. “There is no place in Benin culture for a ‘general Iyeki.’ To suggest otherwise is to distort and desecrate our sacred institutions.”
The PDP also called on Governor Okpebholo to explain who authorised the event and why the Palace was sidelined in a matter deeply rooted in Edo tradition.
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“This is more than a cultural issue; it is a political test,” the party declared. “Edo is not for sale. Our traditions are not bargaining chips for political expediency.”
The opposition party demanded an immediate public apology from the governor’s office, a reaffirmation of the Palace’s authority over market institutions, and an independent review of the role played by the First Lady’s office and Government House protocol in the incident.
Furthermore, the PDP urged all Edo people, both at home and in the diaspora, to rally in defence of the Palace, insisting that any attempt to undermine the Oba’s role will be resisted through lawful and peaceful means.
The party vowed to pursue legal, civic, and political action to ensure such acts are never repeated, stressing that “respect for the Oba of Benin is the non-negotiable foundation of Edo civic life.”
