Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has turned down overtures to become Atiku Abubakar's running mate in the 2027 presidential election, according to Sumner Sambo, the director of politics at Arise News.
Sambo made the disclosure on Monday during a segment on The Morning Show, where he discussed speculation about the former vice president's political plans ahead of next year's general election. He said Okonjo-Iweala, who heads the World Trade Organisation, was unwilling to abandon her current post for a Nigerian political contest.
The WTO chief resumed her second term as director-general in September 2023 and her tenure runs until 2029. Sambo said she had communicated this position directly to Atiku's camp and that her decision made practical sense given what she already had in hand.
"She's not willing to actually leave a lucrative job as DG of the World Trade Organisation to actually consider that," Sambo 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 for a second term till 2029."
Sambo added that accepting the role would have been a risky move for Okonjo-Iweala. He pointed out that Atiku's party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was still entangled in legal battles at the time, facing various court challenges that made the political outcome uncertain.
"What will she be doing as a vice presidential candidate of a party that's still in court, facing challenges?" Sambo asked rhetorically. "I think she already has a secure term there, and she wouldn't consider the offer."
The comments reflect the reality of Nigeria's 2027 presidential race taking shape, with major political figures still assembling their campaign teams. Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as one of Nigeria's most prominent international figures in recent years, particularly after her election as WTO chief in 2021. Her decision to remain at the global trade organisation suggests she views her international role as more valuable than domestic political ambitions at this time.
