In a statement released in Abuja, Buhari said that this clarification has become necessary in view of the continued name-dropping in some circles linking his name to some candidates.
“I am prepared to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects,” Mr. Buhari said in the earlier statement two weeks ago. “It doesn’t matter who the person is or where he or she is from.”
He added: “there is due process for the selection of leaders of the National Assembly, and I will not interfere in that process”.
There has been controversy over the election of new leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, as the All Progressives Congress which has the majority seats has failed so far to allocate the offices to different regions of the country.
Sources in the party say the delay is apparently because Buhari has refused to approve any formula for the election. Party leaders will not jettison zoning, but the party will consider merit first.
The president-elect has insisted he will not back any candidate.
Buhari said the media and the public should begin to get used to no more “business as usual”.
“Nigeria has indeed entered a new dispensation,” he said. “My administration does not intend to repeat the same mistakes made by previous governments.”
