Sylva Denounces Coup Allegations as Baseless Amid Military Raid on Residence

Chief Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, has strongly denied any involvement in an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. This assertion comes amid a military raid on his Abuja residence, which Sylva and his aides classify as politically motivated and without official explanation.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, Sylva’s camp dismissed circulating rumours linking the former governor to the purported coup as unfounded and engineered by desperate politicians eyeing the 2027 general elections. Bokoru described these allegations as a calculated attempt by opponents who view Sylva’s political influence as a major obstacle to their ambitions.

The raid on Sylva’s home, confirmed to have been carried out by personnel believed to be from the Defence Headquarters, caused significant property damage. However, Sylva and his wife were not at home during the operation; they were abroad for medical checks in the United Kingdom and scheduled professional engagements in Malaysia. Bokoru lamented the lack of clear reasons or proper authorization disclosed to Sylva for the raid.

Despite the turmoil, Sylva’s record as a committed democrat remains unshaken. Bokoru emphasized that Sylva has always achieved political milestones through transparent democratic processes since his early days in the old Rivers State House of Assembly in the 1990s and throughout his tenure as Bayelsa governor.

Sylva’s influence remains strong within the All Progressives Congress (APC), demonstrated recently when he mobilized the entire party structure in Bayelsa State to endorse President Tinubu unanimously. Bokoru ensured the public that Sylva remains a steadfast supporter of the current administration and reiterated that the rumours connecting him to any coup attempt are baseless.

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The Nigerian military and Defence Intelligence Agency continue investigations into an alleged coup plot, with several senior military officers detained in the probe. However, the Defence Headquarters has publicly denied the existence of any coup attempt, aligning its narrative with the presidency, which stresses confidence in the armed forces’ loyalty and constitutional role to safeguard Nigeria’s unity.

As the political temperature rises ahead of the 2027 elections, Sylva’s aides accuse certain political elements of exploiting security concerns for personal gain, further complicating the nation’s fragile democratic landscape.