ADC: Okonjo-Iweala Not Ready To Be Atiku’s Running Mate — Sambo

The Director of Politics at Arise.tv, Sumner Sambo, has dismissed speculation that Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is considering a vice-presidential role alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking on The Morning Show on Monday, Sambo said Dr. Okonjo-Iweala had indicated that she was unwilling to leave her position at the WTO, where she recently began a second term scheduled to run until 2029.

Sambo argued that it would be difficult for the former Nigerian finance minister to abandon a secure international appointment for a political contest whose outcome remains uncertain.

“From the latest I’ve heard, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, though she may be considered and all of that, is not willing to actually leave her job as Director-General of the World Trade Organization,” Sambo said.

He noted that the WTO chief resumed her second term in September last year and remains focused on her international responsibilities.

“She just resumed in September last year, and she has a tenure that will run till 2029. What will she be doing as a vice-presidential candidate of a party that’s still in court and facing challenges? She already has a secure term there, and she wouldn’t consider the offer,” he added.

The comments come amid growing speculation over potential alliances and ticket configurations within the opposition coalition being championed by Atiku ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Source: Dailypost