Tinubu Has No Plan to Change Nigeria’s Name or Abolish Sharia Law – Presidency

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu Has No Plan to Change Nigeria’s Name or Abolish Sharia Law – Presidency

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reacted to a report making rounds in some quarters on the alleged plan by his government to change the name of Nigeria and abolish Sharia law in the northern part of the country. The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday night, May 21, 2026, described the report as far from the truth. The statement from the Presidency reads: “The Presidency wishes to inform Nigerians and state clearly that there is no truth whatsoever 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.” According to the Presidency, the report—which cited anonymous sources—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 ahead of the general elections.” The statement urged Nigerians to ignore the viral story in its entirety, describing the purveyors of the fake news as “agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder.”

The statement also clarified that 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 emphasized that under Nigerian law, constitutional changes and amendments are serious matters that require legislative scrutiny, oversight, and extensive debate. “The process of amending the constitution is not at the President’s or the National Assembly’s whim. It is a task that requires a 2/3 majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and the concurrence of 24 State Houses of Assembly.” This constitutional safeguard ensures that no single individual or branch of government can unilaterally alter the nation’s founding document, a fact that makes the alleged “Project True Federation” bill not only improbable but legally impossible to execute within the claimed timeline. The rigorous amendment process, which involves extensive public hearings, legislative debates, and state-level ratification, is deliberately designed to protect Nigeria’s federal structure from arbitrary changes by those in power.

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The Presidency further stressed that President Tinubu is focused on the arduous task of entrenching and deepening the economic reforms his administration has embarked upon, with the aim of delivering more tangible dividends to Nigerians. Since assuming office, Tinubu’s administration has pursued a series of landmark economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, aimed at stabilizing the economy and attracting foreign investment. The statement cautioned citizens against consuming fake and divisive reports, warning that misinformation is likely to proliferate as the nation begins political campaigns, a prelude to the general elections scheduled for January 2027. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 2027 general elections have been scheduled to hold on Saturday, 16th January 2027 for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will hold on Saturday, 6th February 2027. Political campaigns are expected to commence in August 2026, which the Presidency noted as a period when fake news could proliferate as desperate politicians seek to gain an advantage through misinformation and fear-mongering.

The viral report had sparked widespread concern across the country, particularly in the Northern region where Sharia law operates alongside the secular legal system in several states including Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Kaduna. The false claims raised alarms among religious and traditional leaders, who feared the potential social and legal implications of abolishing a system that has been in operation for over two decades in some Northern states. However, the Presidency’s swift and categorical denial appears aimed at dousing any potential tensions arising from the false claims. Meanwhile, the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also weighed in on the broader political landscape, declaring that the only factor holding the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is political power, though this comment was made in a separate context at the launch of the Rise Up Naija Movement (RUN) in Abuja. Nigerians are advised to rely on official communications from the Presidency and verified news sources for accurate information, especially as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections. The Presidency reiterated its commitment to transparency and called on citizens to verify any sensational claims through official channels before sharing, warning that spreading unverified information could lead to unnecessary panic and social unrest.