Tinubu denies renaming Nigeria — The Presidency has dismissed as false and misleading a viral report claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to amend the Nigerian Constitution to rename the country the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia Law in the Northern region.
In a statement issued on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the report as fake news deliberately designed to create tension and destabilise the country ahead of the 2026 general elections.
According to the Presidency, the story, which allegedly cited anonymous sources, forms part of a calculated attempt by “desperate politicians” to stir political crisis and create disaffection among Nigerians.
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“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.
Furthermore, the Presidency urged Nigerians to completely disregard the report, stressing that those spreading the false information are “agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder.”
“Nigerians should ignore the viral story in its entirety because the purveyors of the fake news are agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder,” Onanuga stated.
The statement also refuted claims that President Tinubu intends to send a proposed constitutional amendment 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,” the Presidency added.
In addition, the Presidency explained that constitutional amendments in Nigeria follow a strict legal process that involves extensive legislative scrutiny and broad national consensus.
It noted that constitutional amendments cannot happen at the discretion of the President or the National Assembly alone.
“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 further explained that any constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and approval from at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu remains focused on implementing economic reforms and delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
“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,” Onanuga said.
The Presidency also warned Nigerians to remain vigilant against fake and divisive reports, especially as political campaigns begin ahead of the 2026 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 concluded.
Keyphrase: Tinubu denies renaming Nigeria.
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