Arise Television journalist Sumner Sambo has claimed that Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will not contest as a vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 election despite speculation linking her to the role.
Mr Sambo made the claim on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s The Morning Show while discussing political speculation surrounding Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s future.
According to him, although her name has been mentioned in discussions about a possible vice-presidential candidacy, she is not willing to leave her position at the WTO.
Sambo said Okonjo-Iweala recently began her second term as WTO director-general, which is expected to run until 2029.
He argued that it would be difficult for her to give up an international appointment for a political contest in Nigeria.
“From the latest I’ve heard, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, though she may be considered and all of that, she’s not willing to actually leave her job as DG of the World Trade Organisation to consider that,” he said.
“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 till 2029.”
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former minister of finance, became the first woman and first African to lead the WTO when she assumed office in 2021.
She was reappointed for a second term in 2024.
The comments come amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 presidential election and speculation about possible alliances and ticket combinations.
