BY Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

“IT is finished,” Comrade Adams Oshiomhole shouted to celebrating supporters last Sunday as he rode triumphantly along one of the rain washed roads of Benin-City, the Edo State capital.

The sweeping victory of Oshiomhole, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN candidate in the gubernatorial election was itself not totally unexpected. That is, given the sterling performance of the Oshiomhole administration in its first tenure.

Not even the drench of the rain could suppress the impact of Oshiomhole’s declaration that Sunday that the dominance of the clique that had dictated the political direction of the state was finally over.

Gov. Oshiomhole and Chief Anenih

Indeed, that was the feeling of many associates of Chief Anthony Anenih that were also that Sunday gathering to review the impact of the decisive loss.

Some of the associates of the famed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leader were in such a foul mood, that they were refusing to answer calls.

Reality it seemed was distilling on the several men and women who had for most of their political lives hung on to Chief Anenih for political survival.

The decision to withdraw a press statement questioning Oshiomhole’s victory on the basis of the winner’s earlier castigation of the election was the first indication of reality distilling on the men of the old order.

Chief Anenih had triumphed in all electoral conquests all his political life in Edo State.  Oshiomhole has become the first governor to govern the State without his approval. All others, including Oshiomhole in his first term, had received Anenih’s blessing to become governor.

Saturday’s disaster, remarkably is not just a setback for Anenih and the old guard, but also for the PDP as a party both in Edo State and the rest of the country.

The underbelly of the party that has ruled Nigeria for thirteen years, albeit with very mixed results has been found. Many will now want to hit at it.