₦airaland Forum

Aunty Bello

AMINDA:
Oga, tell Tinubu to prepare for elections and face his opponents at the polls. His fear is palpable and it's beginning to demoralise APC supporters. Nigeria is not Lagos and will never be. There are no Kings. State of ante whatever by your definition will entail Ralph Nwosu coming back to assume chairmanship of the party despite properly resigning, not so? Tinubu has no pathway to re-election and he knows it.

Una go cry tire if you don't do due diligence.

AMINDA:
Oga, tell Tinubu to prepare for elections and face his opponents at the polls. His fear is palpable and it's beginning to demoralise APC supporters. Nigeria is not Lagos and will never be. There are no Kings. State of ante whatever by your definition will entail Ralph Nwosu coming back to assume chairmanship of the party despite properly resigning, not so? Tinubu has no pathway to re-election and he knows it.

As things are now, your Obi and his band of party hopping bandits may not get a party to contest on.

Save that your advise for Obi and his structure of corruption bandits.

Putindbutt:
Don't mind those party hijackers and structure of criminality. They thought status quo ante bellum was when Bala Gombe went to court, but it was actually the very day hostilities began when those coalition of losers bought ADC through the back door.

They can continue to deceive their gullible supporters and turn the law upside down, their tears and wailings will not stop the law from taking its course.

INEC interpreted the Appeal Court decision as the state before Bala Gombe went to Court. That much was cleat from their public statement.

seunmsg:
Definition Of Status Quo Ante Bellum

Source

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Why then didnt INEC recognize the previous Ralph Nwosu leadership?
Because it is sabotage to leave a party leaderless so close to deadlines for conventions.

But wait - No - No one shoud discuss law with you since you made it clear that law and courts are meaningless to you.

Forget play...

You go school....

You should be a super moderator on this platform.

Seun..Fergie001 is brilliant. Not that agbadorian that feels like a champion but is vastly empty.

I hail fergie001, teach them..

fergie001:
This case the person posted is cut-and-join.... Let me take you down memory lane; Akapo Vs Hakeem-Habeeb & Ors.

Akapo was elected Chief Ojora of Lagos to handle properties scattered all over Lagos owned by the Ojora family; The family has a Constitution (Terms of Settlement) enacted 17/12/64 that the Chief Ojora as head & other members of the Family Council (involving extended family members) are responsible for collecting all levies and rents from their many properties in Lagos,12 must form a quorum. Due to deaths, they hadn't formed a quorum for a long time hence on 22/4/84, they removed Akapo in a meeting not convened by him. The family continued as before to share rent until dissatisfied that Akapo was still benefitting, some members on 1/4/85, drove out all persons, seized the receipt books including cash in one of their properties and on 7/4/85, formed a caretaker committee (excluding Akapo) to oversee collection of all rents and levies in all their properties and published same on newspapers This committee started managing and renting out offices to persons blocking same from the Chief Ojora, Akapo.

Akapo went to the Lagos High Court, that he wanted all monies returned, injunction barring the said caretaker committee from entering or leasing any of the offices or properties belonging to the Ojoras, that he is also entitled to same as Chief Ojora. The High Court said No, he didn't suffer any damages and it will not grant the injunction because he didn't file the suit quick enough, again, the properties needed to be managed hence granting the injunction will have effect on the management, hence all monies to be collected by the caretaker committee be paid to the Lagos State Registry pending when the suit is successfully dealt with.

Akapo went to the Appeal Court and by 1-2 lost again, he approached the Supreme Court and won. The Supreme Court held that any meeting not convened by him cannot stand and granted the injunction but again in law, you look at the lead judgement. Other supporting or opposing judgements, are called orbiters, and are not quoted or used as base/foundation.
Mind you, this was an interlocutory appeal.

The lead Judgement was read by Justice Karibi-Whyte on 10/7/92. Nnaemeka Agu was just a member of a panel of 5, but I will still deal with the matter here;

Some things are instructive:
1. There was some disagreement prior to the formation of the caretaker committee.

2. There was no meeting because of the lack of quorum.

3. Any meeting must be convened by the Chief Ojora, Akapo.


status quo Vs status quo ante are both restraining orders urging parties to hold forth.

In "Mr. Kolawole Oronti Vs Alhaji S. A. Onigbanjo (2012)":
The Supreme Court, per Mary Odili JSC held "
“…Status quo ante bellum means the state of affairs existing before the case was filed.”

This is the latest Supreme Court Judgement and will hold fast and trite than the previous ones. The very slight difference is that whilst status quo talks about State of matters as it were, status quo ante is before the war.

Now to ADC.

David Mark & Aregbesola were brought in on July 2 (on interim basis). They hadn't started acting at the time despite the speeches they made, they were only pre-coronated. That they were endorsed did not mean they had taken over. They didn't carry out one administrative function on or before July 29.
There was no forceful takeover.
On Nafiu's now-deleted Facebook posts, he was backing Mark and co as far as July 11.

A NEC meeting was held by the highest ruling organ of the Party, NEC and monitored and approved by INEC on July 29 where formal handover took place. By July 31, Nafiu held a press conference that he is the Acting National Chairman. Let me pause here:-

Decisions of NEC are binding and final. So, even if Bala or any other exco had claimed not to have resigned, they have been caught up by NEC decisions. When Oshiomhole and Giadom had their fight, APC NEC dissolved the whole NWC even though some of these excos were not involved in the fight. Leadership and membership issues are within the internal affairs of a political party and the Court is divested from delving into such matters (except since 2023 for obvious reasons).

Nafiu had filed his suit on Sept 4 but as at July 29, David Mark had started his job. Before July 29, Nwosu was in-charge.

If I agree without conceding INEC and/or your position, when did the hostilities start? Before Sept 4? Before July 29?

By virtue of the latest Supreme Court Judgement on this, the suit was filed Sept 4, 25; a period David Mark was already Chairman.
INEC claims David Mark it endorsed David Mark on Sept 9, so does INEC have the rights to dabble into leadership issues? So why did Nafiu file a suit against someone whom INEC doesn't recognise according to the Commission?


To end this: The new Electoral Act 2026: Section 83(5):
“Subject to the provision of subsection (3), no Court in Nigeria shall entertain jurisdiction over any suit or matter pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party.”

Hopefully, we can follow Congresses leading to the April 14 Convention of the ADC

Go and sleep...

Yapping aimlessly like a toddler.

MagicBishop:
As things are now, your Obi and his band of party hopping bandits may not get a party to contest on.

Save that your advise for Obi and his structure of corruption bandits.

esnbrutality:
Go and sleep...

Yapping aimlessly like a toddler.

I can feel your pain.

Your madness don dey come down small small.

Las las una body go cool down.

Tinubu never won the 2023 election; that's why he is very afraid despite the governors he has

seunmsg:
At least, we can all see that INEC made the right call by de-recognizing the David Mark camp. Doing otherwise would have been a violation of the order of the Court of Appeal.

Status quo: the situation currently
Status quo ante bellum: the situation before the war. Anyone who's claiming INEC's interpretation of the Appeal court decision is wrong is either playing the ostrich or just being mischievous. If the Appeal court wanted the current ADC leadership to be at the helm pending the determination of the case at the High Court would have just said the parties should maintain status quo.

gabbasin:
Status quo: the situation currently
Status quo ante bellum: the situation before the war. Anyone who's claiming INEC's interpretation of the Appeal court decision is wrong is either playing the ostrich or just being mischievous. If the Appeal court wanted the current ADC leadership to be at the helm pending the determination of the case at the High Court would have just said the parties should maintain status quo.

+
But the Status Quo Ante Bellum was INEC recognizing and interacting with the David Mark Leadership.

AMINDA:
Oga, tell Tinubu to prepare for elections and face his opponents at the polls. His fear is palpable and it's beginning to demoralise APC supporters. Nigeria is not Lagos and will never be. There are no Kings. State of ante whatever by your definition will entail Ralph Nwosu coming back to assume chairmanship of the party despite properly resigning, not so? Tinubu has no pathway to re-election and he knows it.

Guy one of you don dey come back his senses.

If ADC keep blaming non existent Tinubu and fail to act fast, una no go get any valid candidate and HEAVEN will not fall.

No be today people dey blame Tinubu for their problem, it’s been happening since 1999

AMINDA:
Oga, tell Tinubu to prepare for elections and face his opponents at the polls. His fear is palpable and it's beginning to demoralise APC supporters. Nigeria is not Lagos and will never be. There are no Kings. State of ante whatever by your definition will entail Ralph Nwosu coming back to assume chairmanship of the party despite properly resigning, not so? Tinubu has no pathway to re-election and he knows it.

Don't mind them, they are defining it to suit their own agenda. Even with 33governors, fear still grips them. I'm particularly glad that voters are getting wiser by the day. We all know who won the 2023 election before they grab it and run away with it.

AMINDA:
Nigeria is a nation of over 200 million people. It will be disingenuous for any one man to think he can impose himself on the people by being the only candidate on a ballot. International pressure groups are already paying attention to the matter. We all now understand Obasanjo when he tried to prevent INEC from declaring Tinubu as president.

https://x.com/batten_von/status/2039806668351906006

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As things stand, it may be only the International Community who can pressure the govt to remove its boots from the neck of the opposition.

Ofunaofu:
Every learned person knows status quo ante bellum, except when it gets to Tinubu’s turn, where it mysteriously acquires a new meaning.

‘Return to status quo,’ they say.
But the status quo is the David Mark–led ADC executive, since nature and politics abhors a vacuum.

Yet INEC now appears to be deliberately creating one.

I have problem with our judges using all these outdated Latins to give rulings. They should try and be giving clear, concise and decisive rulings such that no two or multiple interpretations can be attached to it. That way they can prevent mischievous interpretations from any corners.

fergie001

There is no need for any long post. Status quo ante bellum is the situation of things before the hostilities started. In this case, the situation of things before the David Mark group attempted to takeover the party. In addition, the court also ordered all parties to cease all activities till the FHC decides the matter. So, why should the David Mark group be allowed to continued carrying out activities in violation of the court orders?

“If they (ADC) are saying we have taken sides, that is not true, because if you look at the status quo ante bellum, we tried to interrogate it, and it means the status before the hostility started, the status before the war.”

- Prof. Amupitan INEC Chairman responded to David… pic.twitter.com/AsvzVAqFNW

— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) April 3, 2026

seunmsg:
fergie001

There is no need for any long post. Status quo ante bellum is the situation of things before the hostilities started. In this case, the situation of things before the David Mark group attempted to takeover the party. In addition, the court also ordered all parties to cease all activities till the FHC decides the matter. So, why should the David Mark group be allowed to continued carrying out activities in violation of the court orders?

+
You don't even know the meaning of the word "bellum" in that phrase.

Pretending to know a subject way above you.

AMINDA:
Are you more knowledgeable on the matter than seasoned lawyers? Nigeria is at the brink. It will be wise not to put your reputation on the line by supporting this for tribal reasons. Unless you are personally benefitting from it.

For those who are happy about what is happening in Nigeria and how INEC and the court are helping to destroy this country, listen to Femi Falana on the issue of ADC/INEC pic.twitter.com/Vj00QYd6oq

— DGov (@omoluabi1sq) April 2, 2026

Are you saying that INEC has no legal team who might have interpreted the judgement for them?

LegendHero:
Guy one of you don dey come back his senses.

If ADC keep blaming non existent Tinubu and fail to act fast, una no go get any valid candidate and HEAVEN will not fall.

No be today people dey blame Tinubu for their problem, it’s been happening since 1999

This cannot work.
Everyone is frantically looking for help, exactly what the ruling Party & Tinubu want.

The question is:
1. Is the July 29 NEC meeting valid?

2. Did the Court or INEC fault this same meeting?

3. Are leadership issues justicable?

So, let me ask you, they called for a NEC meeting at least 21 days before that meeting, who was Chairman?;Ralph Nwosu.
Is the NEC meeting being contested?


My advice: ADC go on with your April 14 Convention.... The fact that INEC acknowledged the Convention to go on just this Monday only to beat a volte face has made their Thursday decision a faux pas.

DeepSight:
+
Why then didnt INEC recognize the previous Ralph Nwosu leadership?
Because it is sabotage to leave a party leaderless so close to deadlines for conventions.

But wait - No - No one shoud discuss law with you since you made it clear that law and courts are meaningless to you.

Nwosu has resigned already so he can’t be the beneficiary of the order. In fact if INEC is to take side, they would recognize Bala as the chairman since he’s the only member of the Nwosu led NWC that is still in office.

However, beyond the status quo ante bellum order, the court also ordered all parties to cease all activities till the FHC rule on the matter. So, it’s only sensible for INEC to tell everybody to wait till the mater is decided.

fergie001:
This cannot work.
Everyone is frantically looking for help, exactly what the ruling Party & Tinubu want.

The question is:
1. Is the July 29 NEC meeting valid?

2. Did the Court or INEC fault this same meeting?

3. Are leadership issues justicable?

So, let me ask you, they called for a NEC meeting at least 21 days before that meeting, who was Chairman?;Ralph Nwosu.
Is the NEC meeting being contested?


My advice: ADC go on with your April 14 Convention.... The fact that INEC acknowledged the Convention to go on just this Monday only to beat a volte face has made their Thursday decision a faux pas.

My own advice also is for them to go ahead with their convention and damn the consequences.

Infact, they should just ignore INEC, go ahead with the convention, contest the election, and let the court do anything they want to do during or after that.

---

## INEC & ADC — The Status Quo Ante Bellum in Action (April 2026)

**What Happened:**

On April 1, 2026, INEC announced it would discontinue recognition of the David Mark-led ADC faction, remove the names of the current NWC from its records, and suspend all dealings with both rival camps until the substantive suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja is decided. [CrispNG](https://crispng.com/inec-suspends-all-engagement-with-adc-factions-as-david-mark-nwc-is-removed-what-this-means/)

**The Court Order Behind It:**

The move followed a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12, 2026, which directed all parties to maintain the **status quo ante bellum** — the position that existed before the dispute began. [CrispNG](https://crispng.com/inec-suspends-all-engagement-with-adc-factions-as-david-mark-nwc-is-removed-what-this-means/)

**The Background Dispute:**

The case stems from Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the legitimacy of David Mark and his allies after the Ralph Nwosu-led NWC stepped aside in 2025. [CrispNG](https://crispng.com/inec-suspends-all-engagement-with-adc-factions-as-david-mark-nwc-is-removed-what-this-means/)

**INEC's Justification:**

INEC said the decision was taken to prevent situations like those in Zamfara and Plateau states where elected officials were removed by election tribunals for disobeying court judgements. [TheCable](https://www.thecable.ng/inec-defends-derecognition-of-adc-factions-says-decision-guided-by-court-order/)

---

## Now Connect It Back to *Akapo v. Hakeem-Habeeb*

This is precisely the principle from that case — INEC is refusing to allow the **David Mark faction to consolidate a position they acquired through a disputed takeover**, just as the court in *Akapo* refused to freeze a status quo created by a **forcible, wrongful act**. The *status quo ante bellum* here means the ADC's leadership structure **before** the Mark/Aregbesola faction assumed control.

Peacecore:
Are you saying that INEC has no legal team who might have interpreted the judgement for them?

It doesn't make INEC a Judge and Jury.

In 2007, INEC and its legal team made a decision like this following an Appeal Court Judgement. The Supreme Court sitting in a panel of 7 shut it down immediately. See Atiku Vs INEC.

Just recently, INEC also made a decision in Natasha Akpoti Vs INEC , when she ran for Governor under SDP, the Appeal Court also shut it down.

INEC totally misinterpreted and misrepresented the Appeal Court Judgement. Again, what was before the Appeal Court.

Nafiu complained that he is the Ag National Chairman.
At the time he filed the suit in Sept 4, INEC had not recognised David Mark.
Note this.

ddippset:
Yes but you have not told us how can someone who also resigned take over?

Proof it in court he resigned....its david mark and his co conspirators word against gombe's

fergie001:
This cannot work.
Everyone is frantically looking for help, exactly what the ruling Party & Tinubu want.

The question is:
1. Is the July 29 NEC meeting valid?

2. Did the Court or INEC fault this same meeting?

3. Are leadership issues justicable?

So, let me ask you, they called for a NEC meeting at least 21 days before that meeting, who was Chairman?;Ralph Nwosu.
Is the NEC meeting being contested?


My advice: ADC go on with your April 14 Convention.... The fact that INEC acknowledged the Convention to go on just this Monday only to beat a volte face has made their Thursday decision a faux pas.

Watch this inec chairman video unbiased. It answers the question you raised on why INEC did what they did.

"But looking at the fact that it's a matter the court has to decide, we decided that we're not going to turn that part... Court of Appeal said, don't do anything that will render any proceeding, whether it is valid, whether it is competent or not... so long as it is filed. Don't… pic.twitter.com/pz3aWIJdUC

— TallJohn🌍 (@JohnFanimokun) April 3, 2026

CaptainFM1:
I have problem with our judges using all these outdated Latins to give rulings. They should try and be giving clear, concise and decisive rulings such that no two or multiple interpretations can be attached to it. That way they can prevent mischievous interpretations from any corners.

Absolutely 💯

AMINDA:
Oga, tell Tinubu to prepare for elections and face his opponents at the polls. His fear is palpable and it's beginning to demoralise APC supporters. Nigeria is not Lagos and will never be. There are no Kings. State of ante whatever by your definition will entail Ralph Nwosu coming back to assume chairmanship of the party despite properly resigning, not so? Tinubu has no pathway to re-election and he knows it.

Speak to what the OP wrote

seunmsg:
At least, we can all see that INEC made the right call by de-recognizing the David Mark camp. Doing otherwise would have been a violation of the order of the Court of Appeal.

Yeah, INEC did the right thing.

[quote author=LegendHero post=138980694]Watch this inec chairman video unbiased. It answers the question you raised on why INEC did what they did.

"But looking at the fact that it's a matter the court has to decide, we decided that we're not going to turn that part... Court of Appeal said, don't do anything that will render any proceeding, whether it is valid, whether it is competent or not... so long as it is filed. Don't… pic.twitter.com/pz3aWIJdUC

— TallJohn🌍 (@JohnFanimokun) April 3, 2026

INEC Chair is labouring so much too hard.

Decision of the Court of Appel - March 12, 26
Acknowledgment by INEC of Adc Convention to proceed on 14/4)26 - 30 March 26

Derecognition of Mark & co - April 2, 26
NEC meeting that produced Mark - July 29, 25
Resignation of Okey Nwosu - July 29, 25

Bala Gombe's Facebook post (as deleted) - he refers to himself as Deputy National Chairman as at July 11, 2025.

peaceful nature until July 31, 2025 when Bala announced himself.
Nafiu Bala expelled by the State Chapter of the Party - August 21, 25

Describe status quo ante again?

What is Nafiu's argument?
That Nwosu resigned on July 29, Ina NEC meeting where he wasn't present?

The Appeal Court said: Go back to the FHC and conclude same. At the FHC, what was the issue...the Appeal Court cannot give an order that has not emanated from the lower court

LegendHero:
My own advice also is for them to go ahead with their convention and damn the consequences.

Infact, they should just ignore INEC, go ahead with the convention, contest the election, and let the court do anything they want to do during or after that.

They can't damn the court because no order has been given.
But for the convention, time is of essence ....they should proceed with their congresses.

Lithiumite:
Proof it in court he resigned....its david mark and his co conspirators word against gombe's

He resigned and his resignation letter was submitted to INEC.

There is nothing to prove.

In this country today proof means nothing..

Courts are useless, the only judge you should listen to these days is your conscience!

If in your conscience you believe that a man who willingly submitted his resignation and came back 4 months later to say they forged his signature..

If your conscience tells you his is correct, so be it.

ddippset:
He resigned and his resignation letter was submitted to INEC.

There is nothing to prove.

In this country today proof means nothing..

Courts are useless, the only judge you should listen to these days is your conscience!

If in your conscience you believe that a man who willingly submitted his resignation and came back 4 months later to say they forged his signature..

If your conscience tells you his is correct, so be it.

But same court upheld elections in states won by opposition, apc lost zamfara and rivers to the courts without even casting a single vote despite being the party in power......I guess courts weren't useless then.