Tinubu Not Renaming Nigeria or Scrapping Sharia, Presidency Fires Back at Viral Fake News

The Presidency on Thursday dismissed as “false, dangerous and provocative” a viral report claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was planning sweeping constitutional amendments to rename Nigeria the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia Law in the North.

In a strongly worded statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the report as the handiwork of “desperate politicians” bent on creating tension, division and political instability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The statement said there was no truth whatsoever in claims that President Tinubu intended to transmit a controversial constitutional amendment bill allegedly code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly by December 15.

“The story is entirely fake and should be ignored by Nigerians,” the Presidency stated, warning citizens against falling for “divisive propaganda designed to overheat the polity.”

According to the statement, constitutional amendment is a serious legal and legislative process that cannot be carried out arbitrarily by the President or the National Assembly without broad national consensus and constitutional requirements.

The Presidency noted that any constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly as well as approval by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.

It stressed that President Tinubu remains focused on economic reforms, governance and delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians rather than engaging in what it called “imaginary political plots being circulated online.”

The Presidency also cautioned Nigerians to expect an increase in fake and misleading reports as political activities ahead of the January 2027 general elections begin to intensify.

Onanuga described the promoters of the viral report as “agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder” seeking to sow distrust and trigger unnecessary political and religious tension across the country.