Former Bayelsa State Governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of abandoning the principles on 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. He said his decision followed consultations with his family, political associates, colleagues and supporters.
The former governor, who described himself as a founding member of the APC, said he could no longer remain in a party whose leadership, in his view, had moved away from the ideals that originally attracted him and other Nigerians.
“Having consulted widely with my family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers,” Sylva said in his resignation letter, he had decided to formally leave the party with immediate effect.
Sylva criticises APC leadership
Sylva expressed disappointment over what he described as the abandonment of the APC’s founding principles.
According to him, he and other members had invested significant effort and resources into building the party, making its current direction particularly disappointing.
He criticised what he described as a political culture in which leaders believe that almost anything is acceptable in the pursuit of political interests.
Sylva argued that political activities should still be guided by basic standards of morality, decency and responsibility.
His decision therefore represents a major political break with the party he helped build and comes at a time when political activities are already intensifying ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former minister criticises Tinubu administration
Sylva also criticised the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu.
He said the APC-led government had disappointed what he described as a large majority of Nigerians and argued that he could not see a credible effort to correct the problems he attributed to the administration.
The former governor said he therefore saw little possibility of a meaningful revival of the political platform in its current form.
He used the image of a struggling vessel to explain his decision to leave the party, saying he had chosen to abandon what he considered a politically troubled platform.
Sylva also called on Nigerians to use the next general election to change the country’s political direction.
He expressed confidence that voters would put Nigeria’s interests first when they go to the polls in 2027.
EFCC copied in resignation letter
Another significant aspect of Sylva’s resignation was his decision to copy the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the letter.
The former minister accused the anti-graft agency of increasingly behaving like an extension of the ruling APC rather than an independent government institution.
Sylva said he was aware that leaving the APC could expose him and his associates to additional scrutiny.
He nevertheless stated that he was prepared to accept the consequences of his decision.
The development is particularly notable because Sylva has previously faced legal and financial allegations involving the EFCC. Reports have also linked him to ongoing political and legal controversies, although those allegations remain matters for the relevant authorities and courts.
Possible impact on Bayelsa politics
Sylva’s resignation could have consequences for political alignments in Bayelsa State and the wider South-South region.
As a former governor and former federal minister, he remains a prominent political figure in the region.
His departure also comes at a sensitive period, as politicians across the country are positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 election.
The resignation could encourage further political realignment if other politicians who share his concerns decide to leave the ruling party or strengthen cooperation with opposition groups.
However, it remains unclear which political platform Sylva may join next.
APC faces growing political pressure
Sylva’s resignation adds to the political developments surrounding the APC as opposition groups attempt to create stronger alliances ahead of 2027.
While the ruling party continues to defend its record and prepare for the next election, opposition politicians are increasingly seeking ways to challenge its dominance.
The timing of Sylva’s resignation is therefore significant.
It comes on the same day opposition parties and political groups are meeting in Abuja to discuss cooperation and possible strategies for the 2027 election.
Whether Sylva will eventually align with any opposition movement remains uncertain.
For now, his resignation represents a major political statement from a former governor and founding member of the APC, who says the party has moved away from the principles that originally brought its members together.
The development is likely to generate further debate within the APC and across Nigeria’s political landscape as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
