Orji Kalu, lawmaker representing Abia North at the Senate, has set the condition that will decide his next political ambition.
Mr Kalu’s political campaign posters have been littering major cities across the country with different groups prevailing on him to contest the presidential election scheduled for next year.
Addressing reporters on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the former Abia governor said he will vie for the top office if his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), zones its presidential ticket to the South-East region, a situation which is likely not possible, according to political analysts.
“I want to continue to thank people who are putting up my posters all over Nigeria, I have not made up my mind whether to vie for president or not,” he said. “But if opportunity is given to the South-East, I will think again to see if there is room because the party has not said where they are zoning the president to.
“But I know the party will bring a president who will work for the unity of the country which is more important.”
The senator has been consulting to see if he could succeed President Muhammadu Buhari whose final tenure as president ends in 2023. He is not the only aspirant in the APC seeking the exalted position.
Should he declare interest, he will have to slug it out with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor who have all publicly made their intentions known.
Other rumored presidential hopefuls who are yet to declare their intentions to contest include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi and ex-Ogun Governor Ibikunle Amosun.