There have been reports on Sylva’s resignation since early Friday but Bashir Ahmad, one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aides, confirmed that the minister resigned to contest the next Bayelsa governorship election.
The Bayelsa gubernatorial primary election is slated to hold about 30 days from now.
Sylva has been the minister of state for petroleum since 2019 when Buhari was reelected.
The former minister was expected to vacate office by May 29 when Buhari and other cabinet members would leave for a new administration to take charge.
Sylva was governor of Bayelsa from 2008 to 2012. He has made several attempts to return as the number one citizen in Bayelsa but failed.
