Ekiti Government Resolves Five-Year Factional Crisis Among Farmers

The Ekiti State Government has successfully reconciled the two warring factions of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in the state, paving the way for the inauguration of a unified executive council this week.

The reconciliation, brokered by the state government in collaboration with the national leadership of AFAN, brought together the Adebola Alagbada and Rufus Oni factions on Thursday. Both groups agreed on modalities to elect a united leadership that will be recognised by both the state and national authorities.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agricultural Extension Services, Dr Sikiru Olowoyo, expressed relief that the two blocs had resolved to harmonise their houses and move forward together. He noted that the factionalisation, which had lasted over five years, negatively affected farmers’ access to government support and agricultural development.

Olowoyo explained that the resolution was made easier as the tenures of both parallel executives had expired, and members on both sides were willing to collapse their factions into one body. He urged farmers to unite, stating that the government would only deal with a single, recognised association.

A member of the AFAN Board of Trustees, Ademola Okeya, said farmers stood to benefit more from unity and praised the Oyebanji administration’s commitment to agriculture. He unveiled plans for free, fair, and inclusive elections to ensure adequate representation for both blocs.

The AFAN Southwest Coordinator, Femi Adeniyi, also welcomed the development, noting that both state and federal governments were ready to assist farmers, but that division had previously hindered such support.