Tinubu Has No Plan To Rename Nigeria or Abolish Sharia Law — Presidency
The Presidency has dismissed as false reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu plans to rename Nigeria as the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia law in the northern part of the country through constitutional amendments.
In a statement issued on Thursday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga described the viral claims as fake and misleading, alleging that they were deliberately circulated to create tension and destabilise the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the Presidency, there is no truth in reports suggesting that Tinubu intends to sponsor constitutional amendments aimed at changing the country’s name or scrapping Sharia law in northern Nigeria.
Onanuga said the report, which relied on anonymous sources, was part of a coordinated attempt by “desperate politicians” to stir political unrest and create disaffection among Nigerians.
He also dismissed claims that the President planned to transmit a constitutional amendment bill allegedly code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly before the elections.
The presidential aide stressed that constitutional amendment in Nigeria follows a rigorous legal and legislative process involving both chambers of the National Assembly and the approval of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.
According to him, constitutional changes cannot be carried out at the discretion of the President or lawmakers alone, noting that such matters require broad national consensus and extensive legislative scrutiny.
Onanuga further stated that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing economic reforms and delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians rather than pursuing divisive political agendas.
The Presidency also urged Nigerians to disregard unverified and inflammatory reports capable of causing unnecessary tension as political activities begin to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.