The Nigerian Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari will neither interfere nor ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to alter the results of the supplementary polls scheduled to hold  in five states in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesman to the President, Garba Shehu said some APC leaders were expecting Buhari to abuse his office by usurping the powers of the electoral body to turn the tables in their favour.

He maintained that INEC was fully in charge of all electoral matters in the country unlike in past administrations when presidents influenced the outcome of elections.

“The Presidency also rejects unfair and ridiculous criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari’s apparent disinterest in the upcoming elections in some states by party members who wrongfully assume that the President will abuse his power by changing results to favour them.

“Past presidents of Nigeria were known to interfere in inconclusive elections and that is why party members appear to be upset that the same thing is not happening now.

“President Buhari is a different kind of leader. He swore to defend the Constitution and he will not veer off from that.

“The Constitution of Nigeria gives the president no such powers. It is unfair and ridiculous to criticize President Buhari for not going against the Constitution.

“Party members in states where there will be supplementary elections then need to be reminded that they need to work hard to earn their people’s votes, rather than expect President Buhari to manipulate INEC in their favour,” the statement read.

He added that while APC members were expecting Buhari to interfere in the polls, opposition parties have also concluded that the president would use INEC to assist his party to victory.