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The Nigerian Presidency has firmly rejected viral social media claims suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to pursue radical constitutional changes, including renaming the country the “United States of Nigeria,” abolishing Sharia criminal law in northern states, and significantly devolving powers from the federal government to the states.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, May 21, 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described the reports as “fake news” deliberately fabricated by “desperate politicians” and “agents of destabilisation” to create disaffection, stir religious and regional tensions, and overheat 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.
The Presidency further clarified that there is no plan to send any executive bill – reportedly code-named “Project True Federation” – to the National Assembly by December 15, 2026, or at any time in the near future. It urged citizens to disregard the story entirely.
Origins and Spread of the Rumor
The rumor first gained traction in late 2025 through WhatsApp broadcasts and social media platforms, citing unnamed “Presidency sources.” It claimed the administration intended to restructure Nigeria into a “true federation” by:
- Renaming the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the “United States of Nigeria”
- Ending the “dual legal system” by scrapping Sharia criminal law in the 12 northern states that adopted it in 1999–2000
- Transferring substantial powers and resources from the federal government to the 36 states
Similar claims resurfaced strongly in May 2026 amid growing public frustration over economic hardship, rising inflation, fuel prices, insecurity, and electricity shortages. In December 2025, the House of Representatives had already publicly debunked the existence of any such executive bill before the parliament.
The alleged plan to abolish Sharia criminal law touches on one of Nigeria’s most sensitive political and religious fault lines. Beginning in 1999, twelve northern states adopted Sharia penal codes alongside the secular 1999 Constitution. This dual legal system has remained a source of periodic debate concerning federalism, secularism, citizens’ rights, and the balance between religion and state. Any attempt to alter this arrangement would likely trigger significant opposition in the north and raise serious constitutional questions.
Major constitutional amendments in Nigeria require a two-thirds majority approval in both the Senate and House of Representatives, followed by ratification by at least 24 of the 36 state houses of assembly. Changes as far-reaching as renaming the country or modifying religious jurisprudence would demand broad national consensus – something currently absent in Nigeria’s deeply polarized political environment.
The swift presidential denial comes as Nigeria enters the early phase of preparations for the 2027 general elections. Political observers note that disinformation campaigns often intensify during periods of economic difficulty and pre-election maneuvering. The Presidency’s statement has been corroborated by several major Nigerian news outlets, and no credible evidence has emerged to support the original claims.