Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC, with immediate effect.
Sylva conveyed his decision in a resignation letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The former governor, who identified himself as a founding member of the APC, said his decision followed extensive consultations with members of his family, associates, political colleagues and supporters.
His resignation marks a significant development within the political landscape of Bayelsa State, where Sylva remains a prominent figure and influential stakeholder in the state’s politics.
Although the former governor did not disclose specific reasons for his departure in the letter, his decision comes at a time of heightened political activities across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sylva, a long-standing figure in Nigerian politics, served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012 before later returning to the federal government as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
His political career has also been closely associated with the APC since the party’s formation, making his exit a notable development for the ruling party, particularly in Bayelsa and the wider South-South region.
The immediate political implications of his resignation remain unclear, including whether Sylva intends to join another political platform or pursue a new political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
His exit is, however, expected to generate further discussion within the APC and among political stakeholders in Bayelsa State as parties and prominent politicians begin positioning themselves for the next electoral cycle.
