It could be a bet that Cloud Innovation would fare better under an ICANN takeover vs AFRNIC re-establishing control? From some articles I have read, the providence of how Cloud Innovation got their IP blocks is either lost or unknown, so maybe they are betting that if ICANN took over they would not touch Cloud Innovation blocks as the windup of AFRINIC would cause records to be lost?

Or it could be a bet that AFRINIC will eventually re-assert control, so the best thing you can do is try to muddy the waters and raise questions about AFRINICs legitimately which will add more procedural muck and further delay control.