Former Zamfara State Governor, Ahmed Yerima, says he will step down his presidential ambition in 2023 if the ruling All Progressives Congress zones the ticket to the South.

Yerima bared his mind on the 2023 general elections while addressing reporters in Abuja on Sunday.

The erstwhile senator, however, said he had not seen the reason for backing out of the race, not even with the call by the southern governors at their last summit in Lagos.

“Yes, I want to confirm to you that by the special grace of God, if I’m alive, I, Senator Ahmed Sani, intend to vie for presidential office.

“But, you see, if tomorrow my party (APC) comes up and says we have zoned the Presidency to the South, I, Yerima, will follow it. I will then know that it is a decision legally and lawful that is binding on all members of the party,” Yerima was quoted by The Nation.

Asked if he would opt out of APC should the party favour a southern presidential candidate, to actualise his ambition, Yerima said he was not given to moving from one party to another.

“You see, I am a very religious person. As a Muslim, I know that power comes from God, first. If God has not destined that I’m going to be the President, that will not happen. I have never left my party. I started with APP (All Peoples Party); we merged and became ANPP (All Nigerian Peoples Party). Later, we merged and became APC (All Progressives Congress). So, I am a member of APC and I am not in any way thinking of moving from my party to another party.

“So, once there is zoning, I know that my time is up. But I am sure that God Himself will decide, not the people,” he said.