Hayatu-Deen to Atiku, Amaechi: Embrace Integrity, Accountability, Transparency, reject Corruption, Vote-Buying

An African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has challenged fellow aspirants, including Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, to publicly commit to the party’s governance principles and code of ethics, known as the Orange Book.

Hayatu-Deen, in posts shared on his social media handles on Friday, described the Orange Book as a landmark ethical framework in contemporary Nigerian politics.

The presidential aspirant, who was recently screened, said a major highlight of the exercise was the distribution of the Orange Book to aspirants.

He said all presidential and governorship aspirants were required to study the document and affirm commitment to its guiding principles before participating in the process officially.

Hayatu-Deen said that the document represented a binding covenant rejecting self-serving politics, while placing service to Nigerians at the centre of leadership and public office.

“The Orange Book is not a slogan. It declares that public office is not for self-enrichment, personal glory or political entitlement, but service,” he said.

According to him, aspirants seeking the party’s mandate must embrace integrity, accountability, transparency, merit and discipline, and reject corruption, vote-buying, and god-fatherism completely.

He disclosed that two provisions particularly resonated with him, including leadership measured through enduring, people-centred impact and recognition of leaders as public servants only.

“These are not ordinary political declarations. They are standards every leader, irrespective of political affiliation, should willingly uphold in the interest of Nigerians,” he added

The economist-turned politician affirmed his commitment to upholding the code of ethics, urging other aspirants to declare, without reservation, their willingness to abide by the ethical standards outlined in the document.

He argued that Nigeria’s crisis extended beyond insecurity and economic hardship, stating that the country also faced leadership, accountability and public trust challenges.

“Nigeria needs a new political culture rooted in service, competence, responsibility and moral courage. We must begin by changing that culture now,” he stated.

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Report claiming Tinubu plans to rename Nigeria false, misleading, says Presidency

The Presidency has dismissed as false a viral report claiming President Bola Tinubu plans constitutional amendments to rename Nigeria and abolish Sharia Law in northern states.

This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday in Abuja.

Onanuga described the report as fake, misleading and part of a calculated attempt by desperate politicians to create tension, stir political crisis and overheat the polity ahead of the 2027 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 constitutional amendments to change Nigeria’s name.

“There is also no truth to claims that the administration plans to abolish Sharia Law in the Northern region or pursue any related agenda contained in the fabricated report,” Onanuga stated.

He said the story, which cited anonymous sources, formed part of a broader plot aimed at creating disaffection, spreading fear and undermining public confidence in the government and democratic institutions.

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

The presidential aide also dismissed claims that the President intends to transmit a constitutional amendment bill code-named “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly before the 2027 elections.

“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.”

He stressed that constitutional amendments remain serious legislative matters governed by strict legal procedures, extensive scrutiny, broad consultations and democratic consensus across federal and state legislative institutions.

“Under our laws, constitutional changes and amendments are serious business that require legislative scrutiny, oversight and serious debate.

“The process is not at the President’s or National Assembly’s whim,” Onanuga said.

According to him, any amendment to the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and endorsement by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly nationwide.

He said Tinubu remained focused on consolidating ongoing economic reforms and delivering tangible dividends of governance to Nigerians across different sectors of the economy.

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

“He is focused on delivering more tangible dividends to Nigerians,” he added.

Onanuga urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against fake and divisive reports, warning that misinformation and politically motivated propaganda would likely increase as campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections intensify.

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