The Presidency has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating online claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning sweeping constitutional amendments that would allegedly rename the country the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia Law in the northern region.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency described the viral claims as fabricated and part of a coordinated attempt to incite political tension and destabilise the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement, the report falsely alleged that President Tinubu intended to transmit a constitutional amendment bill code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly of Nigeria before the next general election.
The Presidency said no such plan exists.
“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.
Officials further accused unnamed political actors of attempting to weaponise misinformation to create unrest and deepen divisions within the country’s political environment.
“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.
The Presidency urged Nigerians to disregard the report completely, warning that the spread of false and divisive information could intensify as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Nigerians should ignore the viral story in its entirety because the purveyors of the fake news are agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder,” it stated.
“Under our laws, constitutional changes and amendments are serious business that require legislative scrutiny, oversight and serious debate,” the Presidency said.
“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.”
The Presidency maintained that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing economic reforms and delivering governance priorities rather than pursuing controversial constitutional changes.
“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 said.
The clarification comes amid heightened political activity and increasing online speculation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, with government officials warning that misinformation campaigns are likely to intensify during the pre-election period.
The Presidency consequently appealed to Nigerians to verify sensitive political information before sharing it and to remain cautious of reports capable of inflaming ethnic, religious or regional tensions.
