JAMB Registrar Denies Bias in 2025 UTME Glitch, Says All Candidates Equal

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has denied allegations of a deliberate plot against candidates from the South-East following the technical glitch that disrupted the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The glitch affected examination centers in all five South-East states and Lagos, sparking accusations that the board intentionally compromised the performance of candidates from the region. However, Professor Oloyede dismissed such claims at a management meeting ahead of the release of the rescheduled UTME results.

He emphasized that every candidate, regardless of their region, is a Nigerian with equal rights and opportunities, stressing that the board had no motive to target any particular group.

“There was no deliberate attempt to undermine students from the South-East as every candidate is Nigerian and has equal opportunities,” Oloyede said.

The meeting also observed a minute of silence in honour of a candidate who died during the examination, with Oloyede describing the incident as deeply regrettable.

The controversy has drawn criticism from various quarters, particularly from lawmakers representing the South-East in the National Assembly. On Tuesday, the South-East Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives demanded Oloyede’s resignation and called for the entire examination to be cancelled and rescheduled nationwide.

In a statement signed by caucus leader, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, the lawmakers condemned the examination’s outcome as a “national shame.”

“To this end, we call for the immediate suspension of those at the commanding heights of JAMB’s digital operations and examination logistics,” the statement read.

“The registrar of JAMB is said to be a good man, but then, leadership must carry consequences. 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 mounting pressure, Professor Oloyede has maintained that JAMB acted in good faith and continues to prioritize fairness, transparency, and equal access for all candidates across the country.