According to Arise News Director of Politics, Sumner Sambo, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has declined the opportunity to serve as running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Speaking on The Morning Show, Sambo explained that Okonjo-Iweala is unwilling to abandon her lucrative position at the World Trade Organisation, where she is serving a second term ending in 2029.
He noted that while speculations about her potential candidacy have circulated, she has made it clear she intends to stay in her current role. Sambo argued that it would be illogical for her to leave a secure international appointment for a political contest in Nigeria, particularly one involving a party still entangled in legal disputes.
Emphasizing her recent resumption in September and extended tenure, Sambo stated that Okonjo-Iweala would not consider the vice-presidential offer. He described the WTO role as both lucrative and stable, contrasting it with what he called the uncertainties of Nigerian politics.