Who be Timipre Sylva wey deny involvement for alleged Nigeria coup

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva don deny im involvement for any alleged coup plot for Nigeria.

Dis dey for statement wey im Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru sign about reports say authorities raid im house.

Reports bin dey say some officials bin raid di Abuja and Yenegoa residence of di former minister - Bokoru wey confam di reports say di residence of Timipre Sylva bin dey raided by individuals believed to be operatives of di Defence Headquarters for reason wey dem no know and e add say:

"During di said operation, considerable damage bin dey inflicted upon di property.

Despite sustained efforts, I never fit ascertain di reasons or authorisation for dis raid. To di best of my knowledge, di officers involved no provide any categorical explanation for dia actions, either at di time of di raid or subsequently."

Bokoru add say Timipre Sylva and im wife, Alanyingi Sylva, bin dey outside di kontri at di time of di incident.

"As at my last communication with His Excellency, im bin dey do routine medical check-up for United Kingdom, after which e bin dey scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.

Di next development I hear na reports across social media and oda platforms concerning di raid on im residence."

Bokoru add say while di Defence Headquarters don already debunk rumours of a coup in Nigeria, e emphasise say Timipre Sylva no get any involvement either in planning or in logistics with any such plot and as a democrat, e dey support di govment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Wetin dey cause coup rumours for Nigeria?

Nigeria Defence Headquarters bin don debunk tori about an alleged coup wey di cancellation of di October 1 Independence day celebrations and arrest of 16 military officers wey dey face disciplinary panel bin ginger.

Brigadier General Tukur Gusau for statement bin tok say dem dey investigate di said sixteen officers and di process dey within di military internal discipline and professionalism and di panel go make di findings public.

Meanwhile, di recent sacking of service chiefs and appointment of new ones for di kontri further add to speculations but di presidency say no be so, as di changes dey in furtherance of efforts of di federal to strengthen di national security architecture.

Nigeria President Bola Tinubu sack di military chiefs and appoint General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as di new Chief of Defence Staff.

Di Special Adviser to di President on Media and Public Communication Sunday Dare for statement on Friday 24 October, 2025 say di new Chief of Army Staff na Major-General W Shaibu while Air Vice Marshall Sunday Kelvin Aneke na di Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas na di new Chief of Naval Staff. Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General EAP Undiendeye retain im position.

On Wednesday 29 October 2025, di Nigerian Senate confam Major General Waheedi Shaibu as di new Chief of Army Staff, after dem direct am to "take a bow" and assume office immediately.

Shaibu confirmation come barely an hour after di upper chamber clear General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, for di screening process for President Bola Tinubu newly appointed service chiefs.

Di confirmation exercise, hold for di National Assembly complex Abuja, under tight security as senators commence a series of closed and open sessions to vet di nominees.

Who be Timipre Sylva?

Timipre Marlin Sylva na Nigerian politician and e don be former Minister of State for Petroleum, Former Governor of Bayelsa State and former member of di Rivers State House of Assembly.

Born on 7 July, 1964, for Brass Bayelsa State, Sylva start im political career for 1992 wen e represent Brass Constituency for di Rivers State House of Assembly for di old Rivers State. At di time, im bin be di youngest of all di members for di house of Assembly.

Im political career continue wen e become Special Assistant to di Minister of State for Petroleum in 2004 wen Edmund Daukoru bin be di minister.

E later resign to join di PDP gubernatorial primaries in 2006 for Bayelsa State wia e come second behind Goodluck Jonathan. After di PDP presidential primaries election wey Jonathan come dey appointed as a running mate to Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, di gubernatorial candidacy for PDP become vacant, and Sylva come dey elevated to occupy di position of PDP gubernatorial candidate.

As a candidate of di Peoples Democratic Party, Sylva win di 2007 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election and succeed Goodluck Jonathan wey go on to di position of Vice President.

Sylva opponent for di 2007 election, Ebitimi Amgbare of Action Congress, legally challenge im victory. Although di Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal uphold Sylva election, Amgbare carry di mata to di Appeal Court for Port Harcourt wey overturn di Tribunal decision and nullify Sylva election on 15 April 2008.

Di Appeal Court five judges for dia unanimous decision give order for di Speaker Werinipre Seibarugo to dey sworn in to replace Sylva as acting govnor, and order a new election to hold within three months.

A new election hold on 24 May 2008, and Sylva, again running as di PDP candidate, come dey elected with 588,204 out of about 598,000 votes.

Dem swear am in again on 27 May, 2008 but on 27 January 2012, im tenure come dey terminated by di Supreme Court with an acting govnor appointed to oversee di state until di election of February 2012.

On Wednesday, 21 August 2019, President Buhari appoint Timpre Sylva as di Nigerian Cabinet Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.