THE PRESIDENCY has dismissed as false a viral report claiming President Bola Tinubu plans constitutional amendments to rename Nigeria and abolish Sharia Law in northern states.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday in Abuja.
Onanuga described the report as fake, misleading and part of a calculated attempt by desperate politicians to create tension, stir political crisis and overheat the polity ahead of the 2027 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 constitutional amendments to change Nigeria’s name.
“There is also no truth to claims that the administration plans to abolish Sharia Law in the Northern region or pursue any related agenda contained in the fabricated report,” Onanuga stated.
He said the story, which cited anonymous sources, formed part of a broader plot aimed at creating disaffection, spreading fear and undermining public confidence in the government and democratic institutions.
“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 said.
The presidential aide also dismissed claims that the President intends to transmit a constitutional amendment bill code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly before the 2027 elections.
“President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to send any bill code-named Project True Federation to the National Assembly by Dec. 15, a few weeks before the general election.”
He stressed that constitutional amendments remain serious legislative matters governed by strict legal procedures, extensive scrutiny, broad consultations and democratic consensus across federal and state legislative institutions.
“Under our laws, constitutional changes and amendments are serious business that require legislative scrutiny, oversight and serious debate.
“The process is not at the President’s or National Assembly’s whim,” Onanuga said.
According to him, any amendment to the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and endorsement by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly nationwide.
He said Tinubu remained focused on consolidating ongoing economic reforms and delivering tangible dividends of governance to Nigerians across different sectors of the economy.
“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,” he added.
Onanuga urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against fake and divisive reports, warning that misinformation and politically motivated propaganda would likely increase as campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections intensify. (NAN)
