VP Slot: Why Okonjo-Iweala Won’t Run With Atiku In 2027 – Sambo

Arise Television journalist, Sumner Sambo, has claimed that the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is not considering serving as the running mate to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 election.

Naija News reports that Sambo made this known on Monday while speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ about the ongoing political speculation that Okonjo is Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate.

However, Sambo said Okonjo-Iweala is not willing to leave a lucrative position at the WTO, where she is currently serving a second term that runs until 2029.

According to him, it would be unlikely for Okonjo to abandon a secured international appointment for a political contest in Nigeria, especially one 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 DG 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.”