Onanuga Advises ADC to Halt Blame on Tinubu and INEC for Internal Woes
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has publicly called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to cease attributing its ongoing crisis to President Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This statement follows a faction of the ADC, led by former Senate President David Mark, expressing opposition to INEC's decision to derecognize them as the party's National Working Committee.
Background of the ADC Leadership Dispute
INEC's action was prompted by a court ruling that instructed the crisis-ridden ADC to maintain status quo ante bellum, after a faction contested the leadership under David Mark. The challenging faction argues that Nafiu Bala, the former Deputy National Chairman, should assume the role of acting National Chairman following the resignation of the previous chairman. Onanuga clarified that the court's order to revert to the pre-crisis state favors Bala's position.
Onanuga's Explanation of Status Quo Ante Bellum
In a detailed post on X, Onanuga elaborated on the legal term, stating, "Status quo ante or status quo ante bellum refers to the state of affairs prior to a specific event. For instance, nations like Russia and the U.S. often strive to maintain the status quo regarding nuclear arsenals. To maintain the status quo is to preserve existing conditions. The phrase status quo ante, meaning 'the status before,' denotes the previous state of affairs." He applied this to the ADC case, involving Nafiu Gombe versus ADC, David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola, explaining it means returning the party to its condition before Ralph Nwoye allegedly sold it to Abubakar Atiku for use as a special purpose vehicle in the 2027 election.
Claims and Implications for ADC's Future
Reports indicate that Gombe asserts he remains the vice chairman of the ADC, having never resigned, and should automatically become chairman after Nwoye's departure. Onanuga emphasized that the ADC's troubles are self-inflicted and urged the party to stop externalizing blame. This development highlights the internal divisions within the ADC and raises questions about its stability ahead of future elections, with Onanuga's remarks underscoring the need for internal resolution rather than attributing issues to external entities like Tinubu or INEC.
