Former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect, accusing Nigeria’s ruling party of abandoning the principles on which it was founded. The resignation, announced on Sunday, 31 August 2026, comes while Sylva faces separate legal controversies, including allegations linking him to an alleged 2025 plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu — claims he has denied.
Readers should distinguish between Sylva’s political decision to leave the APC and the criminal allegations surrounding him. His resignation does not amount to an admission of wrongdoing, and the allegations concerning the alleged coup remain subject to judicial proceedings.
Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, communicated his decision in a letter addressed to the APC chairman in Ward 4, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He said the decision followed consultations with members of his family, political associates, colleagues and supporters.
“I wish to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect,” Sylva said in the letter.
The former governor described himself as one of the founding members of the APC and said he had contributed both resources and effort towards building the party.
He argued that the principles which originally attracted him to the APC had been undermined and said he could no longer remain in the organisation.
The departure adds to continuing political realignments within the ruling party ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election. New Daily Prime has previously examined APC political calculations ahead of the 2027 election as politicians position themselves for the next presidential contest.
Sylva criticises Tinubu administration
In his resignation letter, Sylva also criticised the APC-led Federal Government, arguing that it had disappointed many Nigerians.
He said he could no longer support what he considered a political culture in which almost any action could be justified in the pursuit of political advantage.
Sylva said he believed politics should still be governed by democratic principles, morality and basic standards of conduct.
His criticism comes despite his previous association with the ruling party and earlier support for President Tinubu.
The APC, meanwhile, continues to prepare for 2027. New Daily Prime reported in January that APC South-East stakeholders had adopted President Bola Tinubu as their consensus candidate for 2027.
Sylva did not identify the alleged coup investigation as the stated reason for leaving the APC. His resignation letter instead focused primarily on his dissatisfaction with the direction of the party and the performance of the current administration.
What is Sylva accused of?
Sylva has been linked by Nigerian authorities to an alleged plot said to have been developed in 2025 to overthrow President Tinubu’s government.
In April 2026, the Federal Government filed a 13-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning alleged treason, terrorism, terrorism financing, money laundering and related offences.
Official reporting by the Nigerian Television Authority said Sylva was listed among the defendants but was described in the court documents as being at large.
Six other defendants who appeared before the court have pleaded not guilty. Reporting on the proceedings says the case has continued through the Federal High Court, while Sylva has not been present to answer the allegations against him.
Investigators have alleged that Sylva was a significant financier of the suspected plot. Those claims remain allegations and have not been established against him by a final court judgment.
Sylva has consistently rejected any suggestion that he was involved.
His spokesman, Julius Bokoru, said after security personnel raided Sylva’s residence in October 2025 that the former governor had “no involvement whatsoever” in either planning or providing logistics for any alleged coup.
Sylva’s camp described him as a committed democrat and said reports linking him to the alleged plot were politically motivated.
EFCC case is a separate matter
Sylva is also wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a separate investigation.
The anti-graft agency declared him wanted in November 2025 in connection with an alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving approximately $14.86 million connected to funds for a refinery project.
That investigation should not be confused with the alleged coup case. The two involve different allegations and processes.
Sylva has criticised the EFCC and, according to other reports on his resignation, sent the agency a copy of his letter while accusing it of becoming politically partisan. The EFCC has not been shown by the available material to have accepted that characterisation, and Sylva’s criticism remains his own allegation.
The resignation also comes as opposition politicians and former APC figures continue positioning themselves ahead of 2027. New Daily Prime has previously reported on an anti-Tinubu political coalition seeking to challenge the President at the next election.
What readers should know
Readers should know that Timipre Sylva has resigned from the APC, but he has not admitted involvement in any coup plot. Federal prosecutors have linked him to an alleged 2025 conspiracy against President Bola Tinubu, while Sylva has repeatedly denied involvement and the allegations have not been established against him by a final court judgment. His EFCC wanted status relates to a separate alleged financial offence and should not be confused with the coup proceedings. The resignation itself is a political decision and does not determine guilt or innocence in either matter.
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