Timipre Sylva Resigns From APC Amid Coup Allegations

Former Governor of Bayelsa State and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on August 31, 2026. In a letter addressed to the APC Ward 4 Chairman in Brass, Sylva described the party as a "floundering ship" and accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of disappointing the majority of Nigerians. He stated that the party had abandoned its founding ideals and eroded standards of decency and morality, expressing confidence that voters would seek change in the 2027 general elections.

Sylva submitted his resignation while facing severe legal challenges and remaining outside Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted in November 2025 for the alleged dishonest conversion of approximately $14.86 million in NCDMB funds. Additionally, the Government of Nigeria has named him as a suspect and alleged principal financier in a plot to overthrow the Tinubu administration, leading to a 13-count charge and trials in absentia.

Sylva copied the EFCC on his resignation, acknowledging that the move might invite a "redoubled witch-hunt." He further characterized the EFCC as an "organ of the APC" rather than an independent state institution, denying the allegations of fraud and treason.