She might not be Nigerians’ favourite political appointee but that has not stopped Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke from being nominated as Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The , source report, said Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s candidacy is intended to break the deadlock over the standoff among opposing candidates from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran over the post, according to Iraq’s oil minister, Abdul Kareem Luaibi.

The position, currently occupied by Abdullah al-Badri of Libya since 2007, will become vacant in December.

OPEC is expected to meet Wednesday (today) but it’s unclear if a decision would be reached on the matter.

Should Alison-Madueke’s nomination sail through, she would become the first female secretary-general of the 12-member countries organization.