The presidency has denied widespread claims alleging that President Bola Tinubu intends to change Nigeria’s name to the “United States of Nigeria” and scrap Sharia law in the northern part of the country through constitutional amendments.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the presidency described the reports as entirely false and accused those behind them of spreading deliberate misinformation aimed at causing political unrest.

The statement, signed by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, said there was no truth to the viral publication suggesting that the president was pursuing constitutional changes to alter the country’s name or abolish Sharia law.

According to the presidency, the report relied on unnamed sources and was part of a calculated attempt by certain political actors to create division, heighten tensions, and destabilise the political environment ahead of the upcoming general elections.

It urged Nigerians to completely disregard the claims, describing those circulating the information as individuals intent on causing confusion and disorder within the country.

The presidency also dismissed allegations that Tinubu planned to transmit a constitutional amendment proposal to the National Assembly under a secret initiative allegedly called “Project True Federation.”

Onanuga stated that the president has no intention of sending any such bill to lawmakers before the elections.

He further explained that constitutional amendments in Nigeria involve a rigorous legal process requiring detailed legislative scrutiny, debate, and broad consensus, rather than unilateral action by the president or the National Assembly.

According to him, any constitutional amendment must secure the support of two-thirds of members in both chambers of the National Assembly as well as approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.

The statement added that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing economic reforms and delivering the benefits of his administration’s policies to Nigerians rather than pursuing the controversial agenda alleged in the reports.