Controversy surrounding the rumored resignation of Chief Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, came to a close on Friday as the Presidency confirmed his resignation.
The Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad, announced via Twitter that Sylva had resigned in order to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in Bayelsa State.
The resignation had been a subject of controversy as senior officials at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources had refused to confirm Sylva’s resignation.
However, it was reported that Sylva had to resign at least 30 days before the April 14, 2023, governorship primaries in accordance with the All Progressives Congress rules.
Sylva had previously served as Governor of Bayelsa for one full term between 2008 and 2012, and was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party at the time.
There have been reports of calls by some APC members in Bayelsa State to disqualify Sylva from contesting the governorship primaries of the party over his refusal to resign his position as a minister.
