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The Nigerian government denied reports that the suspension of the country's highest judge for corruption was linked to the upcoming elections.
President Muhammadu Buhari replaced Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen on Friday, saying he had violated the constitution and was trying to manipulate the judicial system.
The European Union, the United States and Britain have each issued statements this weekend, expressing concern over the situation as the elections are due to take place on 16 February.
But Buhari spokesman said on Sunday that there was no connection. "In Nigerian law, this link does not exist," Garba Shehu said in a statement.
"The CJN does not run the elections, nor is it the first referee to complain about an election complaint.
"He and the Supreme Court will only intervene as the final arbiter at the end of the appeal process …"
"Linking the CJN to elections in this way is illogical unless they badume that election-related complaints will be filed and will go to the Supreme Court."
Shehu's statement was his second against the EU, Britain and the United States, all of whom must have election observers.
His subsequent remarks were more conciliatory than the first, in which the government rejected any outside "interference" and claimed that the matter was an internal matter.
Onnoghen is accused of failing to declare bank accounts in foreign currency, in violation of the rules governing the declaration of badets by public officials.
Shehu maintained that Onnoghen 's position was "unsustainable" given the arguments against him and that the president was forced to act because the judge had not resigned voluntarily.
The suspension was temporary until the end of the case, he added.
Political opponents in Buhari questioned the timing of the charges against Onnoghen being so close to the elections in which Buhari is seeking a second term.
Buhari, 76, of the All Progressive Congress, came to power in 2015 with the commitment to fight corruption.
International and domestic observers have already warned that the two main parties could try to rig the vote, which should be a tight race.
The main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said that Buhari 's suspension of Onnoghen was "an act of shameless dictatorship", clearly referring to his military past.
Buhari ran a military government in the 1980s.
Parliament was recalled Tuesday to discuss the suspension.
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