ABUJA, Nigeria – The Presidency has strongly debunked a viral social media report claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to change the country’s name to the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia law in the northern region.
Okay News reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, issued a formal press statement on Thursday, May 21, 2026, urging citizens to completely disregard the viral story, describing it as a malicious fabrication designed to stir up ethno-religious tension.
The controversial online report, which cited anonymous sources, alleged that the president was preparing to transmit a sweeping constitutional amendment bill, code-named “Project True Federation,” to the National Assembly by mid-December. Beyond the dramatic name change, the rumored bill allegedly sought to dismantle regional religious legal frameworks, sparking immediate outrage and heated debates across various digital platforms.
“The story is part of a dubious plot by some desperate politicians to create disaffection in our country, stir up a political crisis, and heat the polity,” Onanuga stated. He reminded the public that altering the constitution is a rigorous legislative process requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and the formal concurrence of at least 24 State Houses of Assembly, making it impossible to enforce by executive whim. Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu remains entirely focused on deepening his administration’s economic reforms and cautioned Nigerians to remain highly vigilant against a rising wave of divisive fake news as political campaigns heat up ahead of the upcoming general elections.
