By our reporter| The World Trade Organisation on Wednesday said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate for the office of the director-general of the organisation, has the best chance for the job, despite opposition by the US.
The WTO made the disclosure in a tweet via its verified Twitter handle after the head of delegates meeting in Geneva.
After the meeting, WTO spokesperson Keith Rockwell said, “the candidate that had the best chance of attaining a consensus of the membership is Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria. Consultations on the way fwd will start immediately”.
Despite wide support for the Nigerian candidate, the US reportedly expressed its opposition to her emergence.
According to reuters report earlier on Wednesday, Okonjo-Iweala won the popular vote by a wide margin, with the expectation of an announcement after a WTO meeting in Geneva but the US refused to back her candidacy, thereby dragging the process.
Bloomberg earlier in the day reported that the US was leaning towards Yoo Myung-hee, the South Korean candidate.
The heads of delegation of the WTO met by 3pm but failed to reach a consensus as expected.
Okonjo-Iweala had emerged winner of the race with support from 104 of all 164 member countries of the WTO.
Those countries include many in Africa and the European Union, where she had received public support.
The general council, the highest decision making body of the WTO will meet again to attempt a consensus or recourse to the vote.
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