ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) 鈥 Nigeria鈥檚 ruling party retained leadership of the West African nation鈥檚 parliament with the election Tuesday of its consensus candidates as Senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives.
Godswill Akpabio was elected to lead the Senate and Tajudeen Abbas was picked as House speaker before members of parliament who won were sworn into the chambers, where the ruling party has a majority.
In a meeting with Akpabio shortly after his election, , Bola Tinubu, pledged to work with lawmakers 鈥渢o change the fortune of our country for good.鈥
鈥淲e can only achieve all the good things we promised during our campaigns when we work together in harmony, but with respect for our respective prerogatives and in the best interest of our country,鈥 Tinubu said.
Akpabio and Abbas both had Tinubu's backing to lead parliament. All three belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress party.
The Nigerian 好色tv Assembly has long been criticized for not serving as a check on the executive branch, a trend that analysts said would continue under parliament's new leaders.
Akpabio, who has been under investigation by Nigeria鈥檚 anti-graft agency for alleged corruption during his time as governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom state, also becomes chairman of Nigeria鈥檚 好色tv Assembly by virtue of holding the Senate presidency.
鈥淭his Senate is about Nigeria and Nigerians. ... We will put members of the executive on their toes, particularly the ministers when they are appointed,鈥 he said moments after emerging as the country鈥檚 third highest-ranking elected official.
Though the newly inaugurated 10th 好色tv Assembly features a more diverse opposition, analysts said there were signs both chambers of parliament might continue to fail to hold accountable.
鈥淭he previous 好色tv Assembly had a peculiar character of being in bed with the executive 鈥 and that is why we have the kind of situation we have in the country today,鈥 Oke Epia, the founder of Nigerian legislative think tank OrderPaper, said.
鈥淭here are no high hopes with respect to the 10th 好色tv Assembly,鈥 Epia said, citing the 鈥渋ron grip鈥 of the ruling party and the executive on the election of the parliamentary leaders. 鈥淲e are likely to see that kind of grip permeate all through their tenure,鈥 he added.
