Metro
Emmanuel Dennis’ AFCONtroversy Confirms Need for Clear Communication Direct from Leaders
By Joel Popoola
Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations campaign has kicked off with an impressive win against the much fancied Egyptians – despite a number of key players being missing.
Star striker Victor Oshimen was already absent with injury when defensive mainstay Leon Balogun lost his own fitness battle and withdrew from the squad. Then there’s the saga of Emmanuel Dennis.
Despite not appearing for the Super Eagles since 2019, the Watford striker has been in impressive form in his first season in the English Premier League, scoring 6 goals and creating 4 more in his last 10 games.
But his selection for Afcon – and almost immediate deselection – has caused something of diplomatic incident.
Of all the predictions made for 2022, the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and a small town in England is one few people would have made!
When Dennis was named in Nigeria’s AFCON squad on New Year’s Eve he immediately tweeted “Proud to get a call up to represent my country… Naija boy” followed by a heart, the Nigerian flag and an eagle.
Watford in turn tweeted back “Well deserved!”
Almost immediately the Nigerian Football Association announced that Dennis would not be going to the tournament – accusing his club of “baring fangs”.1a
In response, Watford made clear that Nigerian had made an administrative error and simply not officially called the player up.
International football rules state that “Associations wishing to call up a player must notify the player in writing at least 15 days before… the player’s club shall also be informed in writing at the same time”. Watford argued that as the Nigerian football association had failed to follow correct procedure, Dennis’ call-up was invalid.
Nigerian Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick effectively admitted this was correct, blaming former manager Gerhard Rohr and stating:
“There are statutory provisions regarding inviting players… Rohr submitted the first list on the 15th of December, that was the origin of the problem”.
Interim Nigeria manager Augustine Eguavoen however stirred the pot some more, pinning the blame squarely on Watford, stating:
“Dennis said he wants to come but his club was threatening him”
Eguavoen later backtracked slightly, implying Dennis was to blame for his omission:
“It boils down to individual players, you have to fight for it”
Some reports have even suggested that Dennis himself declined the call-up, having been told he would only be a substitute.
The atmosphere of mistrust this whole situation created could well have motivated Senegal to insist that their own Watford player Ishmaila Sarr honour his (correctly administered!) call-up despite being injured since mid-November, forcing him to fly from London to Dakar and on to Cameroun… only for Senegal to acknowledge that he really was injured and to send him home again!
Whatever the truth of the matter, any social media post from Watford is now immediately submerged beneath a tidal wave of furious Nigerians.
And the whole time one person has been almost entirely absent from the conversation – Emmanuel Dennis himself. He could have settled this issue with a single tweet or Instagram story setting the record straight.
It is a lesson Nigeria’s politicians would do well to heed – clear communication, direct from the source is the only way to delivery credible and definitive information in the digital age. On social media, your name is the watermark of quality that differentiates “fake news” from “real news”.
At the digital democracy campaign I lead we’re trying to give politicians the platforms they need to communicate direct with the people they serve.
We have created a free app – Rate Your Leader – which puts verified voters in direct contact with their elected leaders, allowing them to build two-way relationships of trust and transparency and to work together to improve both our communities and our country.
Rate Your Leader lets politicians know what is happening in their areas and what matters most to the people who elect them. It’s abuse-proof technology also ensures all communication is courteous and civil – something Watford and Nigerian football fans alike could clearly benefit from!
If politicians using Rate Your Leader are responsive and authoritative, and explain the decisions they are taking clearly and satisfactorily, their voters can give them a positive rating. If people see that neighbours who have interacted with their local politicians have all rated them highly, that builds trust in our leaders. And that in turn builds trust in our system.
This is surely preferable to staying silent, and let a thousand keyboard warriors fire claim and claim at each other, creating nothing but chaos, confusion and suspicion instead?
Joel Popoola is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, digital democracy campaigner and creator of the free Rate Your Leader app.
The Academic Board of Kogi State Polytechnic has approved the first semester results for the 2025/2026 academic session and withdrawn 229 students over poor academic performance.
The decision was taken at the Board’s meeting held on May 12, 2026, in Lokoja and chaired by the Rector, Professor Salihu Sanusi Avidime, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the acting Coordinator of Public Relations and Protocols, John Amos Onimisi.
The meeting had in attendance principal officers, deans, heads of departments and other members of the Academic Board, who deliberated on key academic issues affecting the institution.
Onimisi said the results were approved following a rigorous verification exercise conducted by the Academic Board Central Results Verification Committee.
He explained that the committee thoroughly reviewed and authenticated submissions from various departments to ensure accuracy, fairness and compliance with the polytechnic’s academic regulations.
“The committee’s report subsequently served as a critical guide in the Academic Board’s deliberations and final decisions on the results,” he stated.
The Rector was said to have commended members of the committee for their diligence, professionalism and commitment to maintaining academic standards in the institution.
The Board said the withdrawal of the 229 students is aimed at upholding academic excellence and preserving the integrity of certificates issued by the polytechnic.
It added that the decision is in line with existing academic regulations, and intended to promote discipline and encourage better academic performance among students.
Comedian and actor, Ayo Makun aka AY, has recounted the final moments of actor Alex Ekubo before his death on May 11, 2026.
Ekubo reportedly died from complications following liver failure, having been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer in 2024.
AY, who was reportedly present at the hospital, said Ekubo was smiling at the time of his death.
He described the loss as difficult to accept and reflected on their shared experiences in the film industry over the years.
The comedian stated that he witnessed the grief of family and friends at the hospital, expressing shock at the actor’s passing.
AY added that Ekubo would be remembered for his contributions beyond film and public recognition.
“Some losses do not feel real no matter how many times you try to process them. Still struggling with the reality that you are gone, Alex.
“From the laughter to the conversations, the random moments, the brotherhood, and all the memories we shared in this industry. This one hurts deeply.
“I was there. I saw you still smiling even in death. I saw the tears from friends and family. And honestly, a part of me is still in shock. Rest well my brother. You will be remembered beyond the lights, the cameras, and the fame,” AY wrote.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Monday, released the minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) cut-off marks approved by universities across Nigeria for the 2026 admission exercise.
The cut-off marks were announced following the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.
According to the approved list, Pan-Atlantic University fixed the highest minimum cut-off mark at 220.
Several institutions, including the University of Benin, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Covenant University, Air Force Institute of Technology, and Obafemi Awolowo University, adopted 200 as their minimum benchmark.
JAMB stated that the approved figures represent the minimum thresholds for admission consideration.
The Board noted that institutions may still set higher requirements for competitive courses such as medicine, engineering, pharmacy, and law.
Below is the full list of universities and their approved minimum UTME scores for the 2026 admission exercise:
Pan-Atlantic University – 220
Air Force Institute of Technology – 200
Covenant University – 220
Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta – 200
Obafemi Awolowo University – 200
University of Benin – 200
University of Ibadan – 200
University of Lagos – 200
University of Nigeria, Nsukka – 200
Lagos State University of Science and Technology – 195
Lagos State University – 195
Lagos State University of Education – 185
Afe Babalola University – 180
Ahmadu Bello University – 180
Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun – 180
Nigeria Police Academy – 180
Nigerian University of Technology and Management – 180
Shanahan University – 180
University of Abuja (Yakubu Gowon University) – 180
University of Ilorin – 180
University of Jos – 170
Augustine University – 170
Babcock University – 170
Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia – 170
Federal University, Lafia – 170
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 170
Nasarawa State University – 170
BITS University, Bwari – 170
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University – 160
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University – 160
Admiralty University of Nigeria – 160
African Aviation and Aerospace University – 160
Ajayi Crowther University – 160
Al-Hikmah University – 160
Bamidele Olumilua University – 160
Bayero University, Kano – 160
Bells University of Technology – 160
Caleb University – 160
Chrisland University – 160
Dominion University – 160
Emmanuel Alayande University of Education – 160
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 160
Federal University of Education, Pankshin – 160
Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo – 160
Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti – 160
Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi – 160
First Technical University – 160
Imo State University – 160
Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management – 160
Karl Kumm University – 160
Kwara State University – 160
Landmark University – 160
Lead City University – 160
Modibbo Adama University – 160
Nnamdi Azikiwe University – 160
Olabisi Onabanjo University – 160
Osun State University – 160
Plateau State University – 160
Redeemer’s University – 160
Summit University – 160
Tai Solarin University of Education – 160
Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery – 160
University of Ilesa – 160
AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University – 150
Adamawa State University – 150
Adeleke University – 150
African School of Economics, Abuja – 150
