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  • Presidency Denies Tinubu’s Alleged Plan To Rename Nigeria, Scrap Sharia Law

    The Presidency has denied reports alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to rename Nigeria as the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia law in the northern region through constitutional amendments.

    The denial was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

    According to the Presidency, the viral report was false, misleading and deliberately created to stir tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Presidency dismisses viral report

    The statement insisted that there was no plan by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce any constitutional amendment seeking to change Nigeria’s name or abolish Sharia law.

    “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,” the statement read.

    The Presidency described the report as part of a wider attempt by unnamed politicians to create political instability in the country.

    “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,” it added.

    Onanuga denies “Project True Federation” claim

    The Presidency also rejected claims that Tinubu intended to send a constitutional amendment bill allegedly code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly.

    According to Onanuga, no such proposal exists within the Presidency.

    “President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to send any bill code-named Project True Federation to the National Assembly,” he said.

    He stressed that constitutional amendments in Nigeria follow a strict legal process involving both the National Assembly and state legislatures.

    Tinubu focused on reforms

    The statement further noted that the President remained focused on economic reforms and governance rather than political distractions.

    “President Tinubu is focused on the arduous task of entrenching and deepening the economic reforms his administration has embarked upon,” the Presidency stated.

    The government also urged Nigerians to avoid spreading unverified and divisive information as political activities continue to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

  • Ejimakor Sparks Debate Over ‘Sharia Mentions’ In Nigerian Constitution, Questions Secular Status

    Human rights lawyer Aloy Ejimakor has sparked fresh debate over religion and constitutional structure in Nigeria after questioning the country’s claim of being a secular state.

    Ejimakor, who serves as counsel to convicted Nnamdi Kanu leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, made the remarks in a statement shared on X on Tuesday.

    ‘Constitution Is Not Secular’

    According to the lawyer, Nigeria’s constitution contains several references to Sharia and Islam while making no mention of Christianity.

    “Do you know that you’ve been lied to that the Nigerian Constitution is a secular Constitution,” he wrote.

    “Well, it’s not, because it contains 73 mentions of SHARIA, 28 mentions of Islam & 10 mentions of Muslim but ZERO mention of CHRISTIAN. Is this not enough to want a separate State? Let’s talk about it, without fear or favor,” he added.

    The comments immediately triggered reactions online, especially amid ongoing conversations around religion, governance and constitutional balance in Nigeria.

    Constitutional Debate Resurfaces

    Nigeria operates under the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits the adoption of any religion as a state religion.

    Section 10 of the Constitution states that “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.”

    However, the same constitution also provides for the establishment of Sharia Courts of Appeal in states where Islamic personal law is applicable, a provision that has generated legal and political debates for years.

    Ejimakor argued that the repeated references to Sharia institutions contradict the description of Nigeria as a secular nation.

    Religious Tensions Draw Global Attention

    The comments come amid renewed international attention on religious violence and insecurity in Nigeria.

    Earlier in April, United States Congressman Mark Harris called on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose sanctions on Nigeria over alleged attacks on Christians.

    Former U.S. President Donald Trump had also stirred controversy earlier this year after warning of possible intensified military action against militant groups in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continued.

    Despite the concerns, the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of religious bias, insisting that terrorism and banditry affect both Muslims and Christians across the country.

    Officials maintain that insecurity in Nigeria is driven largely by criminality and extremist violence rather than state-backed religious persecution.