US DEMAND: Tinubu planning to rename Nigeria, abolish Shari’ah Law – Viral Claims; It’s fake news – Presidency
By OUR REPORTER, Abuja
But the Presidency, in its swift reaction declaring the viral claim as untrue, has dismissed it as false and misleading.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to some viral claims, was said to have possibly fallen to the directives of United States of America demanding – as part of the Donald Trump-led country’s military operations against alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria – that Shari’ah Law be removed from the Constitution of the Africa’s most populous nation as in the northern part of the country
The claims also included alleged plans by the president to rename the country as the “United States of Nigeria” among other things he has been allegedly planning in his ongoing sweeping constitutional amendments with which to restructure Nigeria.
But the Presidency, in its swift reaction declaring the viral claim as untrue, has dismissed it as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday May 21, 2026, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described the report as “fake news” designed to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension across the country.
The controversial story, which circulated widely on social media platforms and messaging applications, claimed that the Tinubu administration was considering constitutional reforms that would fundamentally alter Nigeria’s identity and legal structure. The report, however, relied on unnamed and unverified sources, raising concerns about its credibility.
Reacting to the development, Onanuga said the Presidency had no such plan and urged Nigerians to disregard the publication entirely.
According to him, the false narrative is part of a broader attempt by political actors to destabilise the country and incite public distrust ahead of future elections.
“The story is completely false and should be ignored in its entirety,” Onanuga stated. “The purveyors of the fake news are agents of destabilisation and merchants of disorder who seek to create dissaffection in the country, stir political tension, and heat up the polity.”
The Presidency further warned against the spread of misinformation capable of provoking ethnic, religious, or regional divisions in the country, especially at a time when national unity remains a critical priority.
Observers say the circulation of politically charged fake reports has increased significantly in recent years, particularly on social media, where unverified claims often gain traction before official clarifications are issued.
The Federal Government has repeatedly called on citizens to verify sensitive political information through credible news platforms and official government channels before sharing such reports.
Despite the growing controversy generated online, there has been no official proposal before the National Assembly seeking to rename the country or abolish the operation of Shari’ah Law in states where it is constitutionally recognised.
