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 of abandoning the principles and ideals that guided its formation.
Sylva announced his resignation in a strongly worded letter dated Monday, August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, his home ward.
The former Governor said his decision followed consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, adding that his resignation took immediate effect. Multiple reports published on Monday confirmed the development.
Sylva, who described himself as one of the founding members of the APC, expressed disappointment over the direction the Party has taken since coming to power at the federal level.
He said he had participated in building the Party and contributed resources towards its development, making its current state particularly painful for him.
According to him, the ideals that initially attracted him and other Nigerians to the APC had been abandoned.
He also criticised the conduct of some Party leaders, alleging that they had adopted the belief that “all is fair in politics.”
Sylva argued that such an approach was inconsistent with the basic principles of decency and morality.
He said his decision to leave the APC was therefore not sudden, but the outcome of extensive consultations and reflection on the direction of the Party and the country.
Sylva Accuses APC Government Of Failing Nigerians
The former Minister also took aim at the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu, saying the administration had disappointed a large section of Nigerians.
Sylva argued that the Government, which was formed under the APC platform he once supported, had failed to live up to the expectations that accompanied its rise to power.
He further said he could not see a credible effort to reverse what he described as the administration’s shortcomings.
Sylva consequently compared the APC to a “floundering ship,” saying he had decided to leave rather than remain associated with what he believes is a failing political platform.
His resignation therefore goes beyond a routine party departure, as the former Governor used the opportunity to make a broader political statement about the direction of Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sylva expressed confidence that Nigerians would use the next election to change the country’s political direction.
He urged voters to put Nigeria ahead of political parties when making their choices at the polls.
The former Governor said he believed Nigerians would reject what he described as the current political “stranglehold” and vote for an alternative in the next general election.
His comments are likely to attract attention as political parties and politicians begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sylva Accuses EFCC Of Partisanship
In another significant aspect of his resignation letter, Sylva copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing the anti-graft agency of behaving more like an arm of the ruling Party than an independent government institution.
The former Minister said he deliberately included the EFCC among the recipients of his resignation letter because of what he described as the Commission’s recent conduct.
Sylva’s criticism of the agency comes against the backdrop of an existing investigation involving him.
The EFCC declared Sylva wanted in November 2025 over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257. According to the Commission, the money formed part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery. The EFCC said a warrant for his arrest had been obtained from the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Sylva has previously indicated that he was willing to engage with the Commission and challenged aspects of its handling of the investigation. His aide also said in November 2025 that the former Governor would honour the EFCC’s invitation after completing medical checks in the United Kingdom.
In his latest letter, Sylva acknowledged that his decision to leave the APC could expose him and people associated with him to increased scrutiny.
He said he was prepared to accept the consequences, describing the possibility of further pressure as a risk he was willing to take.
Resignation Comes Amid Coup Allegation
Sylva’s exit from the APC also comes at a politically sensitive period for the former Governor.
In April 2026, the Federal Government filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against several individuals over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Sylva was listed among those accused and was described in court filings as being at large. The charges included allegations bordering on treason, terrorism and other offences connected with the alleged plot.
Sylva has denied involvement in the alleged plot and maintained his innocence.
However, the allegations have added another layer to the political controversy surrounding his decision to leave the APC.
Importantly, Sylva did not cite the alleged coup case as the reason for resigning from the Party in his August 31 letter. Instead, his stated reasons centred on the APC’s direction, the conduct of its leadership and his assessment of the Federal Government’s performance.
Political Realignment In Bayelsa
Sylva’s resignation could also have implications for the APC’s structure in Bayelsa State, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former Governor has maintained a political network in the State, although several politicians associated with his camp have reportedly moved away from the APC amid internal disagreements.
Earlier in 2026, members identified with Sylva’s political camp complained of being sidelined during the Party’s internal processes. Reports from February indicated that some of his loyalists accused the APC leadership of favouring politicians who joined the Party alongside Governor Douye Diri over members who had been with the Party for years.
The development has contributed to growing speculation about political realignments in Bayelsa and the wider South-South region ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sylva’s 2023 running mate, Joshua MacIver, has also left the APC, according to reports cited in the latest coverage of Sylva’s resignation.
With Sylva now formally outside the ruling Party, attention will likely shift to his next political move and whether he will align with an opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For now, the former Bayelsa Governor has made his position clear: he no longer wishes to be identified with the APC and believes Nigerians should use the next election to determine a new political direction for the country.
His resignation represents another notable development in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape as the 2027 election cycle gradually takes shape.