How ex-gov Sylva rose through APC before EFCC summons

Timipre Sylva’s political journey within the All Progressives Congress spans more than a decade, taking him from a former Peoples Democratic Party governor of Bayelsa State to a major figure in the APC and one of the party’s leading financiers in the state.

His political fortunes within the APC, however, have taken a dramatic turn following his resignation from the party on August 31, 2026, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s renewed demand for him to appear before the agency over an alleged $14.86m fraud.

Before the latest developments, Sylva had established himself as one of the most prominent politicians in the Bayelsa chapter of the APC.

From PDP governor to APC

Sylva first became governor of Bayelsa State in 2007 on the platform of the PDP and remained in office until 2012.

His bid for a second term was blocked after the PDP denied him its governorship ticket.

PUNCH reported on April 15, 2023, that Sylva later defected to the APC and became the party’s governorship candidate in the 2015 election. He, however, lost the election to the then-incumbent governor, Seriake Dickson of the PDP.

Sylva subsequently became an important figure in the APC, later describing himself as a founding member of the party.

In his resignation letter from the APC dated August 31, 2026, he wrote, “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.”

Rise as Bayelsa APC heavyweight

Sylva’s influence in the Bayelsa APC grew over the years, with the party’s state leadership openly acknowledging his financial contributions to its activities.

In May 2023, the then APC chairman in Bayelsa State, Dennis Otiotio, described Sylva as a major pillar of the party.

Otiotio said, “Timipre Sylva has been the sole sponsor of the party in the previous elections. He has been the pillar behind the party; he has been the sole financier of the party and the people felt that now that he has been elected the candidate of our party, we have to come out en masse and show him love and commitment.”

The APC chairman added that the party would work to ensure Sylva emerged victorious in the November 11, 2023, governorship election.

His growing influence within the party also coincided with his return to federal politics.

Presidential ambition

In May 2022, while still serving as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sylva obtained the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the presidential race.

Sylva obtained his nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja. This comes ahead of the deadline for the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms for the All Progressives Congress.

He later withdrew from the presidential contest and continued in his ministerial role before resigning in March 2023 to pursue the Bayelsa governorship.

From Minister to APC governorship candidate

Sylva served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In March 2023, he resigned from the Federal Executive Council to contest the APC governorship primary in Bayelsa State.

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The party subsequently conducted its governorship primary through the direct mode across the state’s 105 wards and eight local government areas.

Sylva won the primary with 52,061 votes. He defeated Joshua Macaiver, who polled 2,078 votes, while former APC governorship candidate David Lyon came third with 1,584 votes. Other aspirants included Prof Ongoebi Etebu (1,277 votes), Isikima Johnson (584 votes) and Festus Daumiebi (557 votes).

Declaring the result on April 15, 2023, the chairman of the APC primary election committee, Major General Jibrin (retd.), said, “With this result, Timipre Marlin Sylva, having scored the highest number of votes cast is hereby declared as the winner. By the power conferred on me by the APC National Working Committee, I declare Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva as the winner of this election.”

However, the victory was followed by controversy, as some aspirants, including Lyon and Daumiebi, rejected the result and alleged that the primary was not properly conducted. The party subsequently set up a reconciliation committee to engage the aggrieved aspirants.

Sylva’s second attempt at Bayelsa governorship

Following his emergence as the APC candidate, Sylva launched another bid to govern Bayelsa State.

At a reception organised after the primary, he promised to tackle flooding and unemployment, establish industries, improve electricity supply and strengthen security. He also criticised the administration of the then-incumbent governor, Douye Diri, describing it as “bereft of ideas to develop the state.”

Sylva promised to attract investments and revive the state’s economy.

He eventually lost the November 11, 2023, governorship election to Diri of the PDP.

EFCC declares Sylva wanted

Sylva’s political trajectory later became entangled with an investigation by the EFCC.

On November 10, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission declared him wanted over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257. The money was allegedly part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for a refinery project. The declaration followed a November 6, 2025, warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Sylva quits APC

Nearly a year after the EFCC declaration, Sylva resigned from the APC.

In his resignation letter dated August 31, 2026, Sylva said he had consulted his family, associates and colleagues before deciding to leave the party. He accused the APC-led administration of abandoning the ideals upon which the party was founded.

He wrote, “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.”

Sylva also predicted that Nigerians would vote for change in the coming election, saying,“I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country.”

Interestingly, Sylva copied the EFCC in his resignation letter and acknowledged that his decision could have consequences. He said,“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.”

Following his resignation, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale reiterated the commission’s position that Sylva should make himself available for questioning, “He has been declared wanted; he should make himself available for questioning.”

From his early days as a PDP governor to his defection to the APC, emergence as a major figure in the Bayelsa chapter, return as petroleum minister and unsuccessful 2023 governorship bid, Sylva’s political career has remained closely tied to the shifting power dynamics in Bayelsa and the APC.

His resignation from the party now marks another significant chapter in that political journey, coming as the EFCC continues to seek his appearance over the alleged $14.86m fraud.