The Presidency on Thursday dismissed as false and misleading a viral report alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to amend the Constitution to change Nigeria’s name to the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia Law in the northern region.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, described the report as fake news deliberately fabricated to create tension, provoke political instability and inflame public sentiment ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The statement said there was no truth whatsoever in the claims that the President intended to transmit a constitutional amendment bill code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly before the 2026 general elections.
“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.
According to the Presidency, the report relied on anonymous and unverifiable sources and forms part of a calculated attempt by “desperate politicians” to create disaffection within the country and heat up the political atmosphere ahead of the election season.
It warned Nigerians against falling for divisive narratives designed to undermine national unity and destabilise the polity.
“Nigerians should ignore the viral story in its entirety because the purveyors of the fake news are agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder,” the statement said.
The Presidency explained that constitutional amendment in Nigeria is a rigorous legal and legislative process that cannot be carried out unilaterally by the President or the National Assembly.
It noted that any constitutional alteration requires broad national consensus, including the approval of two-thirds majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly and endorsement by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.
“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,” the statement said.
The Presidency maintained that President Tinubu remains focused on governance priorities, particularly economic reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
According to the statement, the Tinubu administration is concentrating on delivering tangible dividends of democracy rather than engaging in fictitious constitutional proposals being circulated online.
The statement also cautioned Nigerians to be vigilant against the spread of fake news and politically motivated misinformation as political campaigns gather momentum ahead of the January 2026 general elections.
“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 2026,” the statement said.
