Buhari’s aide confirms minister’s resignation

Bashir Ahmad, the Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, has confirmed Timipre Sylva’s resignation as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

In a tweet on Friday, Ahmad stated that the minister resigned to run in the Bayelsa State governorship election on November 11, 2023.

“Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and former Bayelsa state governor, H.E. Timipre Sylva, has resigned his appointment to contest in the next Bayelsa governorship election,” the presidential aide tweeted.

Under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sylva held office as governor of Bayelsa between May 2007 and April 2008, when his election was nullified. Then Speaker of the House of Assembly Werinipre Seibarugo replaced him until a new election led to Sylva’s re-emergence in May 2008.

In January 2012, the Supreme Court terminated his administration.

After his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), he was later appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, as the Nigerian Cabinet Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and former Bayelsa state governor, H.E. Timipre Sylva, has resigned his appointment to contest in the next Bayelsa governorship election.

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) March 31, 2023