Sources: Sylva resigns as minister of state for petroleum resources

Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, has resigned from office.

According to a source at the ministry, Sylva plans to run in the upcoming Bayelsa governorship election, which will take place on November 11, 2023.

The source said he will be participating in the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that the ministry’s staff members have not been formally informed of the development.

Sylva was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 21, 2019, after serving as the governor of Bayelsa state.

The minister, according to NAN, submitted his resignation letter to Buhari.

Also speaking on the matter, Bashir Ahmad, special assistant on digital communications to the president, confirmed Sylva’s resignation in a tweet on Friday.

“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,” Ahmad tweeted.

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

Meanwhile, Horatius Egua, Sylva’s senior adviser on media and communications, told TheCable that he had not received any official communication on the matter.