Arise Television journalist, Sumner Sambo, has claimed that the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is not contemplating being the running mate of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 election.
It was gathered that Sambo disclosed this on Monday while speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on the ongoing political speculation that Okonjo is Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate.
But Sambo said Okonjo-Iweala was not willing to leave a lucrative position at the WTO, where she is currently serving a second term that runs until 2029.
He said it was unlikely that Okonjo would sacrifice a secured international appointment for a political contest in Nigeria, especially an election still enmeshed in legal and political uncertainties.
“Well, the latest I have heard is that Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, though she may be considered and all of that, she is not willing to actually leave a lucrative job as a DG of the World Trade Organisation to actually consider that.
“She has made it known to them and this is understandable as she just resumed in September last year and she has tenure that will run for a second term till 2029.
“So what will she be doing, you know, as a vice presidential candidate of a party that’s still in court, facing challenges. “I think she’s pretty well locked in there, and wouldn’t consider the offer.”
