An associate of Senator Ali Ndume, who is also a serving senator from the North-East geopolitical zone, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not interfere in the ninth National Assembly elections.
The senator, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity on Thursday in Abuja, also denied news making the rounds that President Buhari planned to meet Ndume and Senator Danjuma Goje on the issue.
He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has told everyone that he is for everybody. I trust him, he will not interfere in the ninth National Assembly leadership elections.
“The Presidency had issued two different statements since the leadership tussle for the presiding officers positions started.
“On each occasion, President Buhari reiterated his position not to interfere with the National Assembly leadership issues, so nobody should drag him into it.
“The President encouraged Senator Ndume when he told him about his ambition to contest the senate presidency. How do you think the same President Buhari will ask the senator to step down for someone else?
“The Presidency will accept any member of the APC that emerges as the National Assembly presiding officer.
“The President did not tell Senator Ndume anything before he travelled to the United Kingdom and he had no intention of discouraging him over his ambition. “
A presidency source also confirmed that President Buhari had remained unyielding to the subtle pressure to get him to endorse a particular candidate for the Senate presidency and speakership.
Punch