Tinubu Not Planning Name Change or Sharia Abolition, Presidency Says

The Presidency has issued a strong rebuttal to a baseless and inflammatory fake news story circulating online. This fabricated narrative, which falsely suggested President Bola Tinubu intended to alter Nigeria's name and abolish Sharia law in the northern regions, has been unequivocally dismissed as a malicious plot by political adversaries.

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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.

According to a statement from the Presidency, this disinformation campaign is designed to sow discord, incite a political crisis, and destabilize the nation as it approaches general elections. The purveyors of this fake news are identified as agents of destabilization, seeking to disrupt the country's peace and progress.

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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.

The statement emphasized that any constitutional amendments are a serious undertaking requiring extensive legislative scrutiny, oversight, and debate, needing a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers and concurrence from 24 State Houses of Assembly. This process is far from arbitrary and cannot be dictated by the whims of the President or the National Assembly.

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Nigerians should ignore the viral story in its entirety because the purveyors of the fake news are agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder.

President Tinubu remains steadfastly focused on implementing crucial economic reforms and delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians. The public is cautioned against consuming and spreading divisive fake reports, which are expected to proliferate during the political campaign season. The Presidency's swift and decisive response aims to counter these destabilizing efforts and maintain public trust.

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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.