Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee speaks during the third session of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, in this September 3, 2008 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - Republican Mike Huckabee announced on Saturday he would not seek his party's US presidential nomination in 2012, adding uncertainty to the race to pick a challenger to President Barack Obama.

"I will not seek the Republican nomination for president this year," he said on his Fox News Channel television show.

Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, had been riding high in some 2012 polls among Republicans. But he had not been raising funds or touring the country as he wrestled over whether to launch a second run for his party's nomination or stick with his Fox show, "Huckabee."

Obama, a Democrat, was far ahead of all possible Republican candidates mentioned in a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week. A number of high-profile Republicans have either declined to run or are still weighing their options.