BREAKING: WTO Retains Okonjo-Iweala, Evicts Three Candidates

World Trade Organization members removed three candidates from the race to be the next Director-General of the body.

They also plan to reduce the contestants to two final candidates in the coming weeks.

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala still remained in the race, according to Bloomberg on Friday.

Okonjo-Iweala is a former finance minister in Nigeria and former Managing Director of the World Bank.

The Geneva-based WTO said Mexico’s Jesus Seade, Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh, and Moldova’s Tudor Ulianovschi didn’t secure enough support in a first of three rounds of voting.

“Their expertise and high professional and personal qualities are highly valued and respected by all members,” WTO General Council Chairman, David Walker, said in a statement on Friday.

The second phase of consultations would begin on September 24 and run until October 6 after which the WTO would announce two final candidates.