Stella Okotete, Executive Director (Business Development) of the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, has spoken out about her disqualification as a Ministerial Nominee by the Senate.

Last year, Okotete was recommended to the Senate for screening and confirmation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a ministerial nominee.

However, the Senate did not clear her, citing security reasons against her emergence.

In an online interview “Mic on Podcast,” Okotete claimed that the refusal of the Senate to clear her was “purely political games.” She stated that she is not under investigation by any security outfit in the country and that she would not have remained a NEXIM bank director if she were a security threat to the country.

Okotete believes that those fighting her are doing so out of envy and fear that she may vie for the 2027 Delta governorship election. 

She maintains that there is no such intention to join the governorship race.

In 2020, Okotete was appointed as the national women leader of the All Progressives Congress’ Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Okotete and her potential role in Nigerian politics.