Former Peoples Democratic Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was said to have bit off more than he could chew in the weeks culminating to his sack.
Sources have disclosed that Tukur had promised the former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Umanah Umanah, the gubernatorial ticket for the 2015 elections.
This was said to have enraged Akpabio who has maintained that he would hand over the candidacy to an aspirant from Eket as that was the region whose turn it was to produce the Governor.
The source told Tribune, “I can authoritatively tell you that the man (Tukur) is a goner. He has been fraternising with the sacked Akwa Ibom State SSG, Obong Umanah Umanah.
“He promised the sacked SSG the PDP governorship ticket ahead the 2015 elections. This is a unilateral decision he took without a recourse to the existing zoning arrangement in the state.
“Tukur further got his finger burnt as Umanah gave him a new Toyota bullet-proof Jeep as part of the deal between them.
“Now that he (Tukur) is gone, the development would send a clear signal to whoever that is taking over as the new PDP national chairman as to where is the power base of the party,” the source said.
Tukur reportedly turned down an ambassadorial position offered him by President Jonathan as consolation for being forced out as PDP chairman.
Tukur rejected this offer and has reportedly asked to be appointed the Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. A position once held by Abubakar Baraje, who was the Chairman of the New PDP.