2027 Disinformation! -Presidency Downs Claims Of Plan To Rename Nigeria, Abolish Sharia In North

The Presidency has dismissed as “false,” “dubious,” and “a dangerous act of destabilisation” a viral report claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was plotting constitutional amendments to rename Nigeria as the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia Law in the North.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said “there is no truth to the viral fake story” circulating across social media and messaging platforms.

The statement said President Tinubu “has no plan whatsoever” to sponsor any legislation allegedly code-named “Project True Federation” before the National Assembly, insisting that the report was concocted to “create disaffection,” “stir up political crisis,” and “heat the polity” ahead of the 2027 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 read.

Describing the report as the handiwork of “desperate politicians,” the Presidency alleged that unnamed actors were already deploying misinformation to manipulate public sentiment ahead of the election season.

“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,” Onanuga declared.

The Presidency further urged Nigerians to disregard the report “in its entirety,” warning that fake and divisive narratives would intensify as political campaigns gather momentum.

“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 added.

On the controversial claim that the administration intended to transmit a constitutional amendment bill to the National Assembly by December 15, the Presidency said no such plan existed.

“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,” Onanuga further declared.

The Presidency also stressed that constitutional amendment in Nigeria was a rigorous legal and legislative process that could not be undertaken arbitrarily by the President or the National Assembly.

“Under our laws, constitutional changes and amendments are serious business that require legislative scrutiny, oversight and serious debate,” the statement noted, explaining “It is not at the President’s or the National Assembly’s whim. 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 statement maintained that rather than pursuing controversial constitutional changes, the President remained focused on economic reforms and governance.

“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,” it added.

The Presidency warned Nigerians to exercise caution over politically-motivated misinformation as the country inches closer to the 2027 polls.

“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 2027,” the statement insisted.