2027: 40,000 Abia Farmers Adopt Anosike as Preferred Governorship Candidate, Seek Agriculture-Focused Government

About 40,000 farmers under the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Abia State chapter, have adopted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Dr. Kelechi Anosike, as their preferred candidate for the 2027 Abia State governorship election.

The endorsement was announced by the association’s leadership, led by the State Chairman, Barrister Mike Okezie; Vice Chairman, Chikezie Chidi; and Secretary, Onyemuwa Chigozirom, during a meeting with Anosike in Umuahia. The farmers said their decision was based largely on his proposed policies on agriculture, food security, rural development, and farmers’ welfare.

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In a resolution presented at the meeting, the farmers identified Operation Feed Abia, restoration of agricultural extension services, farm mechanisation, farm grants, revitalisation of farm settlements and rural infrastructure as key reasons for their decision.

The association said it would mobilise its members across the 17 Local Government Areas to participate peacefully in the electoral process, while engaging with the Anosike campaign on policies affecting farmers and agricultural value chains.

The farmers also called on other sectors of the state to scrutinise the various policy proposals ahead of the election and make their own informed choices.

Responding, Dr. Kelechi Anosike described the endorsement as evidence of the farmers’ recognition of the central role agriculture would play in his proposed administration.

He said his government, if elected, would pursue Operation Feed Abia, a back-to-farm initiative aimed at increasing food production and ensuring food security.

Anosike said his agricultural agenda would also include the restoration of extension services, explaining that extension workers would help farmers adopt improved farming practices, including appropriate application of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.

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He further promised to promote mechanised farming by empowering local governments with tractors and other equipment to assist communities with land clearing and preparation.

According to him, the proposed programme would reduce the burden and cost of manual farming while improving productivity across the state.

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Anosike also pledged to provide farm grants and support, promote agricultural processing and standardisation, and revitalise existing farm settlements with modern facilities to make agriculture more attractive to young people.

He said agriculture could provide opportunities not only in crop production but also in areas such as poultry, fisheries, animal husbandry and other agro-allied businesses.

The PDP candidate further disclosed plans to establish an Abia Rural Development Agency, which he said would coordinate the development of rural roads and other infrastructure needed to connect farming communities with markets and economic opportunities. His broader rural-development proposal has previously included infrastructure and agricultural interventions across the state’s 17 LGAs.

Anosike also approved a request for the creation of a Farmers Directorate within his campaign council, with representation from farmers across the state, including the 17 LGAs, 184 wards and polling units.

He said farmers would have a prominent role in the proposed administration, describing the relationship as a partnership between government and the agricultural sector.

The PDP Chairman in Abia and Deputy Governorship Candidate, Elder Abraham Amah, said farmers should be treated as strategic partners rather than merely mobilised during elections.

Amah said the PDP would support policies aimed at improving access to agricultural finance, modern farm equipment, rural infrastructure, markets, extension services, irrigation and agro-processing.

He also advocated greater representation of farmers in government, including the possibility of having a farmer serve as Commissioner for Agriculture.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Abia PDP Campaign Council, Chief Obinna Nwachukwu, urged the farmers to take an active role in the political process after endorsing the candidate.

He argued that farmers should not simply endorse a candidate and return to their farms, but should participate in the campaign and help articulate the sector’s interests.

Nwachukwu proposed that the Farmers Directorate should be populated by members of the association, saying this would give farmers a direct voice in the implementation of agricultural policies.

The development comes against the backdrop of Anosike’s previously announced agricultural welfare agenda, which places Operation Feed Abia, farm grants, extension services, mechanised agriculture and modernised farm settlements at the centre of his proposed programme.

Anosike, who described the 2027 election as a “referendum of ideas”, said the contest should focus on competing programmes and policies rather than insults and personal attacks.

Among those present at the meeting was former Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Chief Empire Kalu, alongside PDP leaders, farmers’ representatives and other party faithful.