Tinubu has no plan to rename Nigeria, scrap Sharia – Presidency

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Presidency on Thursday dismissed as false and mischievous reports circulating online that President Bola Tinubu was planning to rename Nigeria as the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia Law in the northern part of the country through a proposed constitutional amendment.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the viral publication as fake news deliberately designed to create tension, fuel political instability and mislead Nigerians ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Onanuga said the report, which relied on unnamed sources, was part of a calculated attempt by “desperate politicians” to sow discord within the country and overheat the political atmosphere.

“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,” the statement read.

According to him, those behind the publication were “agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder,” urging Nigerians to disregard the story entirely.

The presidential spokesman also denied claims that Tinubu intended to forward a bill allegedly code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly before 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,” Onanuga stated.

He stressed that constitutional amendments in Nigeria follow a clearly defined legal and legislative process that cannot be executed arbitrarily by either the President or the National Assembly.

Onanuga explained that any constitutional alteration would require broad national consensus, including the support of two-thirds of members in both chambers of the National Assembly as well as approval by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.

The Presidency maintained that President Tinubu remained focused on implementing economic reforms and delivering the benefits of governance to Nigerians rather than engaging in divisive political distractions.

“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,” the statement added.

The Presidency further warned Nigerians to be cautious of fake and inflammatory reports capable of deepening political and religious divisions as campaigns for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.