President Jonathan has nominated his Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to succeed long serving incumbent Abdullah al-Badri as OPEC Secretary-General, Iraq’s oil minister said on Tuesday.

The proposal was intended to solve the deadlock over the post created by opposing candidates from Saudi Arabia and Iran, Abdul Kareem Luaibi said.

Luaibi added that Iraq continued to back its own candidate, and the issue remained unresolved. Badri’s latest term in the office ends in December reports New Telegraph.

If Nigeria;s Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke bid is successful, she would make history by becoming the oil exporter group’s club’s first female boss. Alhaji Rilwan Lukman of Nigeria served two terms.

OPEC is set to meet on Wednesday.