The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, has firmly dismissed claims of ethnic bias or favoritism in the handling of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Oloyede addressed concerns sparked by technical glitches that impacted nearly 380,000 candidates, rejecting accusations of deliberate unfairness.
“I do not care where you come from,” Oloyede stated, emphasizing his impartiality. “No conspiracy theory is relevant here. Something went wrong, but I won’t throw my team under the bus.” His remarks follow calls for his resignation from the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives, which labeled the examination’s issues a “catastrophic institutional failure.”
The caucus criticized JAMB’s response, particularly the rescheduling of exams with less than 48 hours’ notice, which clashed with ongoing WAEC exams and led to low turnout in the South East. A separate statement from the South East Senate Caucus, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, suggested the glitches might reflect “hateful politics” aimed at undermining students in the region.
Adding to the controversy, John Nwobodo & Associates, a law firm representing over 1.5 million candidates, demanded the release of UTME questions and answers, citing a 70% failure rate and possible software malfunctions. The firm’s request underscores growing concerns about the examination’s integrity.
Oloyede maintained that JAMB remains committed to fairness in educational opportunities, urging stakeholders to avoid divisive narratives. The South East Caucus, however, continues to demand accountability, pressing for reforms to restore confidence in the examination process.