KEY POINTS
- The Presidency dismissed a viral claim that Tinubu plans to rename Nigeria.
- Onanuga said no bill called “Project True Federation” exists.
- He stressed constitutional change needs two-thirds of the National Assembly and 24 state assemblies.
The Presidency has dismissed as false a viral report claiming that President Bola Tinubu plans to rename Nigeria and scrap Sharia law in the North. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said on Thursday that the story is fake and politically motivated. Moreover, he accused unnamed politicians of trying to destabilize the country before the 2027 elections.
What the false report claimed
The viral story alleged that Tinubu would push constitutional amendments to change the country’s name to the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia law, among other claims. However, Onanuga said the report rested entirely on anonymous sources. Specifically, he called it part of a deliberate plot to stir unrest, spread public disaffection and overheat the polity ahead of the vote. Therefore, he urged Nigerians to ignore it completely. Both ideas touch raw nerves, since Sharia courts operate in about a dozen northern states, while the country’s name and structure carry deep meaning across its many ethnic and religious groups.
The spokesperson also knocked down a related claim. According to Onanuga, there is no bill code-named “Project True Federation,” and Tinubu has no plan to send such a measure to the National Assembly by December 15. Indeed, he described the people behind the report as agents of destabilization.
Why a move to rename Nigeria is hard
Onanuga stressed that no president can rewrite the constitution alone. Specifically, he noted that amendments follow a rigorous legal and legislative process. Any change needs approval from at least two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly. Additionally, no fewer than 24 State Houses of Assembly must endorse it before it can take effect.
Consequently, the idea that Tinubu could rename Nigeria or abolish Sharia by fiat misreads how the system works. The hurdles are deliberately high, and they exist to stop any single office from forcing through sweeping change. Indeed, no Nigerian leader has ever amended the constitution without long bargaining across party and regional lines.
A warning about fake news
The Presidency tied the episode to a wider concern. Now, with campaigns gathering pace, Onanuga warned that misinformation could spread faster and wider. Meanwhile, he said Tinubu remains focused on his economic reforms and on delivering tangible gains for Nigerians. Social media lets such claims travel within minutes, and a single screenshot can reach millions before any rebuttal lands.
He urged citizens to treat divisive and misleading stories with caution. While political tension often rises before elections, he argued, false reports about religion and national identity are especially dangerous. Together, the denials signaled that the government expects more such claims as the January 2027 vote draws closer.
