Former Governor of Bayelsa State and immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of abandoning the ideals upon which it was founded.

Sylva announced his resignation in a letter dated August 31, 2026, which he signed and transmitted electronically to the APC Ward 4 Chairman in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, his home ward.

The former governor said his decision followed extensive consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers.

A founding member of the APC, Sylva said he could no longer remain in a political party whose leaders, according to him, had embraced the philosophy that “all is fair in politics.”

He also copied the National Chairman of the APC, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as the Bayelsa State Chairman of the party.

‘Ideals Have Been Thoroughly Thwarted’

In the resignation letter, Sylva recalled his contributions, alongside other members, to the formation and growth of the APC.

He, however, said he was deeply saddened by what he described as the “thorough and unrecognisable” abandonment of the principles that initially attracted him and other Nigerians to the party.

Sylva said:

“Having consulted widely with my family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, I wish to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect.”

He added that remaining in the party had become difficult for him because of what he described as the conduct and political philosophy of its leaders.

“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.”

The former minister further stated that he could not “in all good conscience” continue to belong to a party whose leaders, he alleged, had consistently demonstrated the belief that “all is fair in politics.”

According to him, “The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it.”

Sylva Criticises Tinubu Government

Sylva also criticised the APC-led Federal Government, saying it had disappointed the majority of Nigerians.

He expressed doubts about the possibility of reversing what he described as the administration’s failures, arguing that he could neither see a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp.

He stated:

“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 said the situation had left him with no option but to abandon what he described as a “floundering ship.”

He added:

“I am therefore left with no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities.”

‘Nigerians Will Vote for Nigeria’

The former Bayelsa governor expressed confidence that Nigerians would use the next general election to change the political direction of the country.

He said he had no doubt that Nigerians would “vote for Nigeria” in the coming election and free the country from what he described as a “stranglehold” on the nation.

His resignation comes as political activities and realignments gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sylva Accuses EFCC of Political Conduct

Sylva also took aim at the EFCC, accusing the anti-graft agency of increasingly conducting itself as though it were an organ of the ruling APC rather than an independent institution of the state.

He said the decision to copy the EFCC in his resignation letter was deliberate.

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

The former minister acknowledged that his decision to leave the APC could expose him and his associates to increased scrutiny or investigation.

He said he was prepared to accept the consequences of his decision.

“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.”

Exit of Sylva Loyalists

The resignation follows the earlier defection of several political associates and loyalists of Sylva from the APC in Bayelsa State.

According to the information contained in the report, many of his loyalists had left the party for opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election, citing alleged marginalisation and claims that they were being schemed out of the party they helped to build.

Sylva’s running mate in the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election, Joshua Maclver, had earlier in the year also defected from the APC.

Several other members and supporters across the state were also said to have left the party.

Sylva’s Legal Battle

Sylva is currently outside the country and, according to the information provided, is being tried in absentia over allegations of financing a coup against the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The former minister has denied the allegation and maintained his innocence.

His resignation now marks a significant political development involving one of the prominent founding figures of the APC and former governor of an oil-producing state.

The immediate political destination of Sylva following his resignation remains unclear from the information available in the statement.