Ekiti farmers remove chairman over alleged constitutional breaches

By Boye Oyeyemi

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ekiti State chapter, has removed its chairman, Adekogbon Sunday Ige, from office after the state executive council passed a vote of no confidence in him.

The decision was reached at an emergency meeting of the state executive council and communicated to the national president of AFAN in a letter dated September 2, 2026. The letter was signed by the state Secretary, Okafor Bamidele, on behalf of the council.

The state EXCO accused Ige of breaching provisions of the association’s constitution and undermining the activities of the elected leadership. It alleged that he repeatedly stayed away from properly convened EXCO meetings and held meetings with another faction, which it said deepened divisions within the state chapter.

The council also raised concerns over the handling of fertiliser distribution in Ekiti, alleging that Ige failed to work with other executive members to address complaints surrounding the process.

It further alleged that the chairman ignored a directive from the national leadership ordering the dissolution of all local government executive councils and the conduct of fresh elections in line with AFAN’s rules.

According to the council, Ige also allegedly threatened some EXCO members or sought police intervention against them while they were carrying out their duties. It added that his alleged constitution of another state executive council had further worsened the leadership dispute.

The EXCO also accused Ige of collecting N350,000 for AFAN local government election forms, alleging that the amount exceeded the fee approved and communicated by the national office.

The state council urged the national leadership to intervene, ratify its decision and take steps to prevent further division and the emergence of parallel leadership structures in Ekiti. Efforts to obtain Ige’s reaction were unsuccessful, as several calls to his telephone went unanswered.