The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has denied claims that the technical issues during the 2025 UTME were part of a targeted plot against candidates from the South-East or any part of the country. He made this clarification on Tuesday during a management meeting ahead of the release of results from the rescheduled examination.
The clarification followed mounting accusations from some quarters, especially lawmakers from the South-East region, who alleged that the glitch was part of a deliberate attempt to suppress the performance of South-East candidates. The issue affected candidates in all five South-East states and Lagos, prompting widespread calls for accountability.
Professor Oloyede described the allegations of a South-East conspiracy in the 2025 UTME as false and baseless. “There is no conspiracy against any candidate or region,” he said. “Every candidate is a Nigerian and has equal rights and opportunities in our examination process.”
Read Also: UPDATE: Police Say They Mistook Father of WAEC Candidate Killed in Ibadan for a Criminal or Kidnapper
He also addressed the unfortunate death of a candidate during the UTME period, describing it as a tragic and regrettable incident. A minute of silence was observed during the meeting in honour of the deceased student.
However, the controversy continues to gain momentum. The South-East Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives on Tuesday demanded Oloyede’s resignation. In a statement signed by caucus leader Igariwey Iduma Enwo, the lawmakers described the glitch as a “national shame” and called for the cancellation of the 2025 UTME nationwide, with a new date to be fixed.
The lawmakers further demanded the immediate suspension of JAMB officials responsible for managing the digital and logistical operations of the examination. “The Registrar of JAMB is said to be a good man, but leadership must come with consequences,” the caucus said. “He should resign to allow for a full and fair investigation into what went wrong.”
In response, Oloyede insisted that JAMB remains committed to fairness and transparency in the conduct of its examinations. He emphasized that the South-East conspiracy theory in the 2025 UTME was not only unfounded but also dangerous to national unity and trust in public institutions.
As pressure mounts from political and public voices, the board is expected to release the rescheduled UTME results soon. Meanwhile, JAMB has promised to improve its systems and prevent such occurrences in the future, even as it continues to reject any notion of a South-East conspiracy in the 2025 UTME.
