Former Bayelsa State Governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress with immediate effect, accusing the ruling party of abandoning the principles upon which it was founded.
Sylva announced his resignation in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The former governor described himself as a founding member of the APC and said his decision followed consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and supporters.
In the resignation letter, Sylva expressed disappointment over what he described as the transformation of the party’s founding ideals, saying he could no longer remain in an organisation whose leaders, in his view, had embraced the belief that “all is fair in politics.”
He also criticised the performance of the APC-led Federal Government, alleging that the administration had disappointed a large section of Nigerians.
Sylva’s resignation is politically significant because of his long-standing role in the APC and his political influence in Bayelsa State and the wider South-South region.
The former governor was among the prominent politicians who helped build the APC following the party’s formation from a merger of opposition political groups.
His departure comes as Nigeria’s political parties are increasingly repositioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with defections and new alliances already reshaping the political landscape.
Sylva’s resignation also comes amid separate legal and political controversies surrounding him.
TheCable reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission declared him wanted in November 2025 over an alleged case involving conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.859 million. He has also been listed among defendants in a federal government’s case relating to an alleged coup plot against President Tinubu.
Importantly, Sylva’s resignation letter did not cite the alleged coup investigation as the reason for his departure from the APC. Reports indicate that he instead focused his explanation on his disagreement with the direction of the party and the performance of the Federal Government.
His exit is likely to fuel further political realignment ahead of 2027, particularly in the South-South where opposition parties are seeking to strengthen their structures and attract prominent political figures.
For now, Sylva has not publicly announced the political platform he intends to join following his resignation.