The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has firmly rejected claims of a conspiracy against any region of Nigeria following the technical glitch that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The glitch, which affected Lagos and the five states in the South-East, sparked widespread criticism and accusations that the board deliberately compromised the results of candidates from the region.
Addressing the media during a management meeting on Tuesday ahead of the rescheduled UTME results release, Oloyede described such claims as unfounded and divisive.
“There was no deliberate attempt to undermine students from the South-East as every candidate is Nigerian and has equal opportunities,” he said.
During the meeting, a minute of silence was also observed in honour of a candidate who tragically died during the examination period. Oloyede called the death “regrettable,” acknowledging the pain it has caused.
However, pressure continues to mount. The South-East Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives has demanded Prof. Oloyede’s resignation, describing the examination glitch as a “national shame.” In a statement issued by the caucus leader, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, the lawmakers insisted the examination be cancelled entirely and re-conducted nationwide.
“The registrar of JAMB is said to be a good man, but then, leadership must carry consequences,” the statement read. “We, therefore, call on the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to do the needful by resigning his appointment to pave the way for a thorough examination and remediation of the root causes of this national shame. That’s the way to go in any civilised democracy, and we expect no less.”
Despite the calls for his resignation, Oloyede remains resolute that the board acted with integrity and in the best interest of all Nigerian students.
