The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, recently fixed Saturday, July 14, 2012 for the governorship election in Edo state.

Barring any change in party followership, the contending parties appear crystal clear, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Whilst the former assumed power less than three years ago, the latter seized power in the state for nine and a half years. A basis of comparison therefore exists for the electorate to make their choices, using the past as a guide to the future.

Ideally, a political party should be judged on the basis of performance as a party whilst in power. Regrettably, parties shirk this responsibility, particularly where performance is abysmal.

That brings me to the barrage of criticisms of Chief Lucky Igbinedion’s eight years in office by members of the PDP. The impression created by these criticisms is that a state governor is a separate entity from the party that sponsored him.

Can we forget so soon how leaders of the party told the whole world that there was no vacancy in Dennis Osadebe House in the 2003 elections?

The PDP euphemistic approach to the Igbinedion administration is at best censorious. The party must see every failure as a window of opportunity to launch a return instead of horse trading and holding others responsible for its monumental failure.

Oshiomhole entered the governorship race without a pedigree in politics, save his untainted records at the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC where he selflessly pursued programmes that endeared him to the masses. He retired as an accomplished labour leader rising to the position of President and decided to bring his wealth of experience to bear in his home state at a time Edo people were completely hopeless and disillusioned. His entrance into the race was therefore a welcome development.

History, they say is a teacher. In less than three years in office, the ACN led by Oshiomhole, has assumed the daunting task of laying a solid foundation for the economic prosperity of the state.

While Gov. Oshiomhole looks sure to carry the ACN flag for the July 14, 2012 election same cannot be said of the PDP.

The irreconcilable differences between the PDP factions in the state are expected to be strengthened in the days ahead. An indication of what to expect during the governorship primary emerged recently when a faction of the party cornered all the state and local government executive positions to the chagrin of the other faction. With this unexpected development, the faction that will produce the governorship candidate of the party is no more in doubt and it is not likely that the other faction will sheepishly concur without a fight. The stage, therefore, appears set for a divided PDP going into an election.

Edo people see Oshiomhole, and by extension the ACN government, as a huge success, if put side by side with PDP’s era of pocket politics.

Today, the governor can confidently show completed and ongoing projects scattered around the state. New roads have emerged and existing ones are receiving face lift. The perennial flooding of the state capital is receiving serious attention as drainages are being constructed around the city. Public schools and hospitals have been renovated and equipped and potable water now flow in areas the hitherto never saw pipe borne water. The problem of youth unemployment is receiving unprecedented attention and indeed, the PDP will easily agree that the rot left behind before the advent of this administration cannot be tackled overnight.

Again, the PDP’s decision to zone the governorship ticket to the south may not positively affect the outcome of the election in its favour as politics of ethnicity has no root in Edo state, a state considered to be thoroughly homogeneous, if our history is anything to go by. History has it that Edo Central and North migrated from Benin and hence the near similarity in culture and tradition. This fact is incontrovertible. There is therefore no puzzle as to which directions the pendulum will swing come 14th July, 2012.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s achievements in the state can only be compared with that of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia in his military days and perhaps, Professor Ambrose Alli of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

However, it may be hasty to say that the PDP is finished in the state. The PDP must get its acts together and prepare for 2016. For 2012, Adams has won this with an embarrassing margin as the signs are obviously ominous for the PDP.

HANSON AIMOFUMEH