Quick Summary:
Arise News Director of Politics, Sumner Sambo, says WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is not willing to leave her position to become Atiku Abubakar’s running mate ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Director of Politics at Arise News, Sumner Sambo, has said that Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is not willing to leave her current position to become a running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Sambo made the remark on Monday while speaking on The Morning Show, where he discussed ongoing political speculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“She’s Not Leaving A Lucrative Job”
According to Sambo, although Okonjo-Iweala may be considered for the role, she is not prepared to abandon what he described as a lucrative and secure position at the WTO, where she is currently serving a second term that runs until 2029.
He explained that Okonjo-Iweala had made her position known to those proposing the idea, noting that her current international appointment offers stability and global influence that would be difficult to relinquish for a political contest in Nigeria.
Legal And Political Uncertainties
Sambo further argued that it would be unlikely for Okonjo-Iweala to leave a secured international appointment for a political race still facing legal and political uncertainties.
Background To The Speculation
The comment comes amid growing speculation about potential alliances and running mate options for Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister and global economic leader, has not publicly commented on the speculation.
Political observers note that her international commitments and non-partisan profile make her an unlikely participant in partisan politics at this stage.
