Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
More than 40,000 farmers in Abia State have endorsed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Dr Kelechi Anosike ahead of the 2027 governorship election, according to the Abia State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
The endorsement was announced by AFAN Abia State Chairman Mike Obinna Okezie after members of the association’s executive met with Anosike at his campaign office in Umuahia.
The farmers’ association said its decision was influenced by Anosike’s proposed policies on agriculture, food security, rural development and farmers’ welfare.
The development adds an agricultural dimension to the growing political activity ahead of the 2027 Abia governorship election, with agriculture emerging as one of the major issues in Anosike’s campaign platform.
Farmers cite agricultural policies
According to reports by Punch Newspapers, Vanguard and The Sun, Okezie said the association had decided to support Anosike because of his proposed programmes for the agricultural sector and his plans to improve the welfare of farmers.
The farmers specifically cited proposals including Operation Feed Abia, the restoration of agricultural extension services, farm mechanisation, financial support for farmers and the revival of farm settlements.
AFAN also said it planned to mobilise its members across Abia’s 17 local government areas to participate in the electoral process and promote the agricultural policies contained in Anosike’s campaign programme.
The reported endorsement represents the position announced by the Abia chapter of AFAN. It does not, by itself, establish that all farmers in the state support the PDP candidate.
Anosike outlines agriculture agenda
Responding to the endorsement, Anosike said agriculture would have a significant place in his proposed administration if he is elected governor.
One of the central elements of his agricultural programme is what he calls “Operation Feed Abia”, a policy intended to increase food production and strengthen the state’s agricultural economy.
Anosike has also proposed restoring agricultural extension services, with the aim of giving farmers greater access to modern agronomic practices and technical support.
He has argued that excessive and inappropriate use of agricultural chemicals can affect productivity and the ability of farmers to meet standards required for wider markets, including export markets.
His proposals also include providing grants to farmers, improving agricultural packaging and standardisation, and supporting the development of agricultural value chains.
According to Vanguard’s report, Anosike also pledged to empower local governments to provide tractors for activities including land preparation and bush clearing.
The candidate has further proposed revitalising farm settlements and encouraging younger people to enter areas such as fishery, piggery, poultry and ranching.
Rural development linked to agriculture
Anosike’s agricultural proposals form part of a broader rural-development agenda he has presented during the 2027 campaign.
Earlier in 2026, he proposed establishing an Abia Rural Development Agency to coordinate investment in rural roads, electricity, water supply, markets, agricultural infrastructure and other development projects.
TheCable reported in June that Anosike linked the proposed agency to a wider plan for rural development, agriculture, local government administration and security.
Vanguard also reported that the PDP candidate proposed constructing or rehabilitating at least one major rural road annually in each of Abia’s 17 local government areas if elected.
The proposals are significant because agricultural production depends not only on farm inputs but also on transportation, storage, access to markets and rural infrastructure.
Poor roads and inadequate market infrastructure can increase the cost of moving farm produce and contribute to post-harvest losses. Improving those systems is therefore closely connected to any attempt to expand agricultural production and farmers’ incomes.
Food security becomes campaign issue
Food security is another prominent part of Anosike’s agricultural platform.
In September, ThisDay reported that the PDP candidate had promised to pursue an agricultural programme aimed at increasing food production and making Abia more capable of producing food for local consumption and export.
His campaign has repeatedly presented agriculture as more than a rural-sector issue, linking it to employment, food availability and economic development.
The approach also reflects the importance of agriculture to discussions about the cost of food and household welfare across Nigeria.
However, the proposed programmes remain campaign commitments. Their eventual implementation, funding arrangements, institutional structure and measurable outcomes would depend on the policies and resources of any administration that takes office.
Youth employment also features in agricultural plan
Agriculture has also been connected to Anosike’s proposals for youth development.
In August, Punch reported that the PDP candidate identified agriculture as a potential avenue for creating jobs and improving food security in Abia. He spoke about an “Operation Feed Abia” back-to-farm initiative intended to encourage young people to participate in agriculture.
He has separately proposed opportunities for young people to obtain remote employment through a proposed Abia Global Opportunity Agency.
Taken together, the proposals show that his campaign is presenting agriculture as part of a broader employment and economic-development strategy rather than limiting it to traditional farming.
Farmers to have proposed role in campaign
Following the endorsement, Anosike approved the creation of a Farmers Directorate within his campaign council, according to Vanguard’s report.
The proposed directorate is expected to include representatives from different parts of the state and provide a channel for farmers to participate in the campaign’s engagement with agricultural issues.
The arrangement could give agricultural groups a more direct role in communicating their concerns to the campaign, although its effectiveness would ultimately depend on how the structure operates and whether the proposed commitments are translated into government policy if Anosike wins the election.
Abia’s 2027 political contest
Anosike secured the PDP governorship nomination for the 2027 election earlier this year. Reporting from News Central said he won the party’s primary with 16,543 votes.
Since becoming the party’s candidate, he has continued to campaign around issues including agriculture, rural infrastructure, youth employment, security, local government and social welfare.
His agricultural programme has also been presented as an attempt to draw on Abia’s history of agricultural development, including references to the administration of former Eastern Region Premier Michael Okpara.
The use of agriculture as a campaign issue comes as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 electoral cycle and seek to present policy proposals to voters across the state.
What the endorsement means
The AFAN endorsement gives Anosike’s campaign an announced show of support from an organised agricultural group representing farmers in Abia.
At the same time, the reported figure of more than 40,000 farmers is a claim made by the association and reported by multiple Nigerian news organisations. Weng Global has not independently verified the membership figure.
The endorsement should therefore be understood as the stated position of AFAN’s Abia leadership rather than evidence of the voting intentions of every farmer in the state.
For voters, the broader significance of the development lies in the policy debate surrounding agriculture, food production and rural development.
The competing candidates and parties in the 2027 contest will have the opportunity to present their own programmes, while voters will ultimately assess the proposals, records and commitments presented during the campaign.
Election date and next steps
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed February 6, 2027, as the scheduled date for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections in its current election calendar.
INEC’s published timetable also sets out deadlines for electoral activities, including voter-related processes and political campaigns. The commission’s election information is the appropriate reference point for subsequent changes to the timetable.
With the election approaching, political parties and candidates are expected to intensify their engagements with voters and present their policy platforms.
For Abia’s farming communities, agriculture is likely to remain an important part of that discussion, particularly around food production, farm financing, mechanisation, rural roads, market access, youth participation and the development of agricultural value chains.
The immediate focus following the AFAN endorsement will be on how the farmers’ association engages with Anosike’s campaign and whether the candidate provides further details on the financing, implementation and measurable targets of his proposed agricultural policies.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers — report on the reported endorsement of Anosike by more than 40,000 Abia farmers.
- Vanguard — report on the AFAN endorsement and Anosike’s agricultural proposals.
- The Sun — report on the reported adoption of Anosike by Abia farmers.
- TheCable — report on Anosike’s rural development, agriculture and security proposals.
- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — current 2027 election calendar.
- ThisDay — report on Anosike’s agricultural and food-security proposals.
