On Thursday, the Presidency rejected as completely untrue and deceptive several online reports alleging that President Bola Tinubu intends to rename the country to the “United States of Nigeria” and eliminate Sharia law in the north using constitutional reviews.
In an official release made available on Thursday, the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, labeled the trending article as fake news cooked up to spark unrest and weaken the nation’s stability as the general elections draw closer.
“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 said.
Onanuga explained that the false report was cooked up by “desperate politicians” who want to trigger political turmoil and create divisions throughout the federation.
“The story, which cited anonymous sources, is part of the dubious plot by some desperate politicians to create disaffection in our country, stir up a political crisis, and heat the polity ahead of the general elections,” the statement added.
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The federal government advised citizens to completely ignore the publication, tagging the individuals behind the rumor as “agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder.”
Furthermore, Onanuga debunked additional rumors claiming that the President was preparing to forward an executive constitutional amendment bill dubbed “Project True Federation” to the federal lawmakers.
“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,” he stated.
The spokesperson emphasized that altering the constitution in Nigeria involves a strict legal procedure that relies heavily on both federal lawmakers and regional assemblies.
“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 two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and the concurrence of 24 State Houses of Assembly,” it added.
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The presidential media aide noted that Tinubu stays fully committed to driving his economic policies forward and giving citizens the benefits of good governance.
“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 noted.
In closing, the Presidency warned the public to stop sharing polarizing and unconfirmed stories as political campaigns ramp up ahead of the 2027 polls.
