Despite African Union Saying NO, ECOWAS Endorses Okonjo-Iweala for WTO DG

ECOWAS Endorses Okonjo-Iweala for WTO Director-General

Despite the African Union saying no to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala nomination for the post of Director-General of World Trade Organisation, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has thrown its weight behind her candidacy.

This was stated in a statement signed by President H.E. Mahamadoi Issoufou of Niger Republic on behalf of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

“Having acknowledged the strong academic and professional background of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and her very large experience in national affairs as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister briefly in 2006,” the statement read.

ECOWAS leaders said they endorsed Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy because of her vast experience and academic qualification.

This is coming a week after the African Union disqualified her nomination, saying Nigeria had nominated Fedrick Agah and decided to withdraw it for Okonjo-Iweala in a move that contradicts the AU committee rules on nominations.

The African Union says “the nomination of Okonjo-Iweala violates Rule (11), 1, 2 and 3, Rule 12 and Rule 15(3) of the rules of procedure of the committee on candidatures within the International System of the AU as well as Council’s Decisions Ex CI 1072 (XXXV), Ec CI Dec 1090 (XXXVI) and Assembly Dec 795 (XXXIII).”

Earlier this month, President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the post of Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

In a statement written to the African Union, the Federal Government said, “The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and permanent mission to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa present compliments to all embassies and permanent missions in Addis Ababa and has the honour to inform that the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the candidacy of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah for election to the position of director-general of the World Trade Organisation.”

“Nigeria is therefore pleased to request the support of esteemed AU member states as well as permanent missions and embassies in Addis Ababa in favour of the candidacy of Okonjo-Iweala.”