Ex-Governor Timipre Sylva Dumps APC, Accuses Tinubu Govt of ‘Irredeemable Iniquities’

• Former Bayelsa Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, resigns from the APC with immediate effect.

• Sylva, a founding member of the ruling party, says the APC has abandoned its founding ideals and accuses its leaders of believing that “all is fair in Politics.”

• He declares that the Tinubu administration has disappointed the “vast majority” of Nigerians, saying he sees neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a “revamp.”

• Sylva copies the EFCC on his resignation letter, alleging that the agency has recently conducted itself more as an APC organ than an institution of the Nigerian state, while acknowledging that his action could trigger a renewed “witch-hunt” against him and his associates.

August 31, () — Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party and the administration of President Bola Tinubu of abandoning the principles upon which the party was founded.

Sylva’s resignation, contained in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman in Ward 4, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, comes amid an ongoing legal battle arising from Federal Government allegations that he was involved in an alleged plot to overthrow the Tinubu administration.

The former minister said he decided after consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, adding that his resignation was effective immediately.

Sylva described himself as a founding member of the APC who, alongside other Nigerians, contributed his “sweat and money” to building the party.

He, however, said it was now “deeply saddening” to witness what he described as the thorough and unrecognisable abandonment of the ideals that brought the party together.

“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,” he said.

He said he could no longer, “in all good conscience,” remain in a party whose leaders, according to him, believe that “all is fair in Politics.”

Sylva argued that such a philosophy was inconsistent with basic standards of decency and morality and alleged that the mindset had become evident in virtually every action and inaction of the present administration.

‘Government Has Disappointed Vast Majority Of Nigerians’

The former governor also delivered a strong indictment of the Tinubu administration, saying the government formed under the APC banner had disappointed most Nigerians.

“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,” Sylva stated.

He said he was consequently left with no choice but to “jettison a floundering ship” whose fate, in his assessment, appeared to have been sealed by its “irredeemable load of iniquities.”

Sylva further expressed confidence that Nigerians would reject the current political order at the next election.

“I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,” he said.

Resignation Amid Alleged Plot To Overthrow Tinubu

Sylva’s resignation comes at a particularly sensitive time, with the former minister facing allegations by the Federal Government over an alleged attempt to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned several aides and close associates of Sylva over allegations that they failed to provide information that could have helped security agencies locate and arrest him.

The allegations followed investigations by the DSS and the Nigerian military into the purported plot against the Federal Government.

The Federal Government subsequently filed a 13-count charge against seven suspects, including allegations of treasonable felony, conspiracy to overthrow the government, conspiracy to commit terrorism and other national security-related offences.

Those standing trial include retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Victor Erasmus Ochegobia, serving Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

Sylva is also a defendant and is reportedly being tried in absentia before a Federal High Court in Abuja after allegedly evading arrest.

Some serving military officers allegedly connected to the purported plot are facing separate court-martial proceedings.

‘EFCC Now Acts Like APC Organ’

In a further escalation, Sylva deliberately copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in his resignation letter.

He said the decision was informed by his belief that the anti-graft agency had recently conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of the Nigerian state.

“I am deliberately putting the EFCC in copy of this letter because, of late, it has conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of State,” he wrote.

Sylva acknowledged that copying the EFCC could expose him and his associates to what he described as a “redoubled witch-hunt,” but said he was willing to take the risk.

“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 added.

Sylva served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012 and later served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was also the APC candidate in the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election, where he challenged incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).