ADC: Okonjo-Iweala not willing to become Atiku’s running mate — Sumner Sambo

The Director of Politics at Arise News, Sumner Sambo, has said that Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, 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.

According to him, although Okonjo-Iweala may be considered for the role, she is not prepared to abandon what he described as a lucrative position at the WTO, where she is currently serving a second term that runs until 2029.

He further argued that it would be unlikely for her to leave a secured international appointment for a political contest in Nigeria, especially one he said is still facing legal and political uncertainties.

He said: “Well, from the latest I’ve heard that Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, though she may be considered and all of that, she’s not willing to actually leave a lucrative job as a DJ of the World Trade Organisation to actually consider that.

“She’s made it known to them, and that is understandable because she just resumed in September last year, and she has a 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 already has a secure term there, and she wouldn’t consider the offer.”