The Presidency has dismissed as false a viral report alleging that President Bola Tinubu plans to introduce constitutional amendments that would rename Nigeria the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia law in the northern region.
It described the claim as a deliberate attempt at political destabilisation aimed at heating up the polity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the report was fabricated by what it called “desperate politicians” seeking to create unrest and political tension.
According to Onanuga, “The Presidency wishes to inform Nigerians and state clearly that there is no truth to the viral fake story claiming that President Bola Tinubu seeks to carry out constitutional amendments that will change Nigeria’s name to the United States of Nigeria and abolish Sharia Law in the Northern region, among other claims.”
He further rejected claims that the President intended to forward a bill tagged “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly by December 15, 2026, ahead of the general elections.
“President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to send any bill code-named Project True Federation to the National Assembly by December 15, a few weeks before the general election,” the statement read.
The Presidency stressed that constitutional amendment is a rigorous legal process and cannot be driven by executive or legislative discretion alone.
It stated, “Under our laws, constitutional changes and amendments are serious business that require legislative scrutiny, oversight and serious debate.
The process of amending the constitution is not at the President’s or the National Assembly’s whim.
“It is a task that requires a 2/3 majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and the Senate concurrence of 24 state Houses of Assembly.”
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Onanuga also condemned those circulating the report, describing them as “agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder,” while warning that more misinformation could emerge as the election season approaches.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the claims entirely, saying: “Nigerians should ignore the viral story in its entirety because the purveyors of the fake news are agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder.
“President Tinubu is focused on the arduous task of entrenching and deepening the economic reforms his administration has embarked upon. He is focused on delivering more tangible dividends to Nigerians.
“Nigerians should be wary of consuming fake and divisive reports, which will proliferate as the nation begins political campaigns, a prelude to the general elections in January 2027.”
The denial comes amid rising political activity ahead of the 2027 election cycle, with party primaries already underway across various political platforms.