By Jude Opara
Speculation surrounding the possible involvement of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race has been downplayed by political analyst and Arise News Director of Politics, Sumner Sambo.
Speaking on The Morning Show, monitored in Abuja, Sambo said the WTO chief is not inclined to leave her current international position to serve as running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, despite reports linking her name to ongoing political calculations ahead of the next general election.
According to Sambo, Okonjo-Iweala’s commitment to her second term at the World Trade Organization, which runs until 2029, makes a return to Nigeria’s partisan politics unlikely in the near term.
He argued that stepping away from a secured global leadership role for a vice-presidential bid would be a difficult choice, particularly given what he described as unresolved legal and political issues surrounding the opposition platform being discussed.
Sambo noted that the former Nigerian finance minister only recently began her new term at the WTO and is focused on her international responsibilities, making participation in the 2027 electoral contest improbable.
His remarks come amid growing speculation over possible alliances and ticket combinations being considered by opposition figures as political maneuvering for the 2027 presidential election gradually intensifies.
