Ex-Governor Timipre Sylva Denies Alleged Involvement in Failed Recent Coup Attempt

*Says rumour orchestrated by evil politicians

*Confirms raid on his Abuja residence

Chuks Okocha, Linus Aleke in Abuja and Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

A former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has denied any involvement in the alleged attempted coup to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, confirmed that soldiers deployed from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) recently raided his Abuja residence, causing considerable damage to the property.

He, however, stated that the operation lacked justifiable reason or proper authorisation.

Reports had earlier emerged that military personnel conducted coordinated raids on Sylva’s residences in Abuja and Bayelsa, following claims of his alleged connection to a botched coup attempt.

Reacting to the development, the former governor, in a statement issued by his media aide, Julius Bokoru, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and the handiwork of “desperate and narcissistic politicians” consumed by ambitions ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to Bokoru, “These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle — a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions.”

The statement, titled “Setting the Record Straight on Recent False Reports About Sylva,” further addressed recent speculation that the former minister had fled the country.

“In the past forty-eight hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has ‘fled’ the country in connection with certain purported matters.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.

“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently.

“It is important to state unequivocally that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, and his esteemed wife, Her Excellency, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident.

“As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.

“The next development I was made aware of, regrettably, were reports circulating across social media and other platforms concerning the raid on his residence.

“While the Defence Headquarters has already debunked the swirling rumours of a coup in Nigeria, it is important to state emphatically that Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, has no involvement whatsoever — either in planning or logistics — with any such plot.

“Chief Sylva is a thoroughbred democrat, whose entire political journey has been defined by his faith in democratic processes and institutions.

“From the 1990s, when he was first elected into the old Rivers State House of Assembly, to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva has achieved every milestone through transparent, democratic engagement and the will of the people.”

Bokoru also reaffirmed his principal’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, describing Sylva as a consistent supporter of the current administration.