Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party and the Bola Tinubu administration of abandoning the principles on which the party was founded.
Sylva announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the APC chairman in Ward 4, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Monday.
The former governor said he took the decision after consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and supporters.
“As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the Party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted,” Sylva said.
His resignation comes against the backdrop of legal and political controversies involving him, including an ongoing case linked to an alleged plot to overthrow the Tinubu administration and an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Coup Allegation
Sylva was among several individuals accused by the Federal Government of involvement in an alleged plan to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
The alleged coup case resulted in a 13-count charge filed by the Federal Government, with Sylva listed as one of the defendants.
The allegations emerged amid heightened political tensions and claims of a plot against the administration. Those accused have denied wrongdoing, while the case has continued to generate political controversy.
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Sylva has described the allegations and the actions taken against him as politically motivated.
His resignation letter also criticised what he called the administration’s belief that “all is fair in politics”.
“All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it. Unfortunately, this mentality appears to underpin virtually every action, and even inaction, of this administration,” he said.
EFCC Wanted Declaration
The former governor has also faced scrutiny from the EFCC.
In November 2025, the anti-graft agency declared Sylva wanted over an alleged case involving conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.
Sylva subsequently criticised the manner in which the agency handled the matter and questioned its independence.
In his resignation letter, he said he had forwarded a copy of the document to the EFCC, accusing the commission of operating as though it were an arm of the ruling APC.
Sylva said: “The EFCC has conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of state.”
The allegations against him remain matters of legal and political contestation, and the former governor has maintained his opposition to what he considers persecution.
‘APC Has Lost the Ideal it was Built on’
Sylva said the APC had moved so far from its original ideals that he could no longer see a credible path to reforming the party.
“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” he said.
He described the party as a “floundering ship” and said he had decided to leave rather than remain in an organisation whose direction he no longer supported.
“I have therefore decided to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities,” he said.
The former governor also acknowledged that leaving the APC could expose him and his associates to greater pressure.
“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take,” he said.
Sylva expressed confidence that Nigerians would make their choice at the next general election, saying the electorate would vote for the country and bring an end to what he described as the present political “stranglehold”.
His resignation adds another layer to the political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, coming as opposition forces and former members of the ruling party continue to reassess their positions ahead of the poll.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.