Timipre Sylva leaves Nigeria’s ruling party
Former governor of Nigeria’s Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, has left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party. In a letter to the chairman of the party branch in Ward 4 of the Brass Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, he said that the party had moved away from the principles on which it was founded, Premium Times Nigeria reports.
Sylva, who described himself as one of the founders of the APC, said he made the decision after consulting with his family, associates, colleagues and supporters. According to him, the government formed by the party has disappointed many Nigerians, and he sees no convincing efforts to change its course.
Statements on elections and the EFCC
The former governor expressed the opinion that Nigerians would vote for a change of government in the 2027 general elections. He also sent a copy of his resignation letter to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Without evidence, Sylva claimed that the EFCC allegedly acts more as an APC body than as a state institution. He also said he was aware of the risk of intensified persecution of himself and his associates after leaving the party.
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Cases against Sylva
In November 2025, the EFCC declared Sylva wanted in a case involving an alleged conspiracy and the dishonest misappropriation of $14,859,257. The case concerns funds provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for the construction of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
Sylva’s spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, had previously stated that the EFCC did not follow due process before declaring the politician wanted. Sylva also denied involvement in the alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Premium Times Nigeria, investigators consider Sylva the likely main financier of this conspiracy and claim that about 785 million naira was transferred through Purple Waves Limited. The Nigerian government filed 13 counts in the alleged conspiracy case, in which Sylva is listed among the defendants. At the same time, he has not been convicted on these charges.
In May, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the temporary forfeiture of nine properties linked to Sylva at the request of the EFCC. In July, five of his associates appeared in court on charges of concealing his whereabouts; all of them pleaded not guilty.
