No Coup plot against Tinubu, Sylva remains loyal democrat – Aide

Chief Julius Bokoru, media aide to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has denied reports linking his principal to an alleged plot to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Bokoru made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday while reacting to reports of a military raid on Sylva’s residences in Abuja and Bayelsa, during which one of the former governor’s brothers was reportedly arrested.

He described the allegations as “baseless and politically motivated,” accusing unnamed politicians of sponsoring the rumours out of fear of Sylva’s growing political influence.

Bokoru said the attempt to associate Sylva with any coup plot was “a sickening display of political desperation.”

“In the past forty-eight hours, I have been inundated with calls regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has fled the country in connection with certain purported matters,” he said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency 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.”

He added that neither he nor the family had received any official explanation for the raid.

“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. The officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently,” Bokoru stated.

‘Sylva abroad for medical check, not fleeing Nigeria’

Bokoru confirmed that Sylva and his wife were both outside the country when the raid occurred.

“It is important to state unequivocally that Chief Timipre Sylva and his wife, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident,” he clarified.
“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.”

He said social media reports claiming that Sylva had “fled” Nigeria were false and malicious, aimed at smearing the former governor’s reputation.

The media aide described Sylva as a “thoroughbred democrat” whose political career has always been defined by faith in democratic institutions and transparent leadership.

“Chief Sylva has no involvement whatsoever, either in planning or logistics, with any such plot,” he said.

“His entire political journey has been defined by faith in democracy—from his days in the Old Rivers State House of Assembly in the 1990s to his tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State.”

Bokoru added that Sylva’s support for President Tinubu was a matter of public record.

“His unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is well-known. It remains fresh in memory how he mobilised the entire Bayelsa APC structure to unanimously endorse the President at the APC Bayelsa Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting,” Bokoru said.

He alleged that the reports were the handiwork of “desperate and narcissistic politicians” who viewed Sylva as a major obstacle ahead of the 2027 elections.

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