*South East Reps Caucus demands Olohyede’s resignation over glitches
*Wants 2025 UTME cancelled, digital operations staff suspended
*Describes glitches in conduct of 2025 UTME as “catastrophic institutional failure”
*Regrets that all 5 South Eastern States were significantly affected
By Aaron Ossai
As controversy continues to trail this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, the South East Caucus in the House of Representatives has demanded the resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, over what it described as a “catastrophic institutional failure” in the conduct of the 2025 UTME.
In a statement on Monday, the caucus, led by Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, criticized JAMB for the technical glitches that affected nearly 380,000 candidates, many of whom are now required to resit the exam regretting that all five South Eastern States were significantly impacted.
According to them, the Board’s response has been grossly inadequate, citing poor communication, scheduling conflicts with ongoing WAEC examinations, and the short notice given for the resit and argued that the situation has caused unnecessary trauma for students and families.
“Last week, particularly on May 14, 2025, the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made a shocking public admission that due to a ‘technical glitch’ at some examination centres during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), approximately 379,997 out of 1.9 million candidates would be required to resit the exam.
“As a caucus, we are deeply concerned, as all five South Eastern states we represent were directly affected by these so-called ‘score distortions.
“Over the past week, we have exercised restraint, hoping that JAMB would provide effective remedial measures to address what is clearly a catastrophic institutional failure—one that has severely shaken public trust and the confidence of students and their families nationwide”, the statement read.
The caucus called for the immediate cancellation of the 2025 UTME and the fixing of a new date, preferably after WAEC and NECO examinations to ensure no student is disadvantaged.
They also demanded the suspension of key officials responsible for JAMB’s digital operations and logistics.
While acknowledging Oloyede’s public admission of the failure, the lawmakers maintained that accountability must go beyond apologies.
They insisted that his resignation would allow for a thorough, independent review of the failure and restore public confidence in the examination body.
They reminded JAMB of its constitutional duty to guarantee equal and adequate educational opportunities for all Nigerian children; a responsibility they said had clearly been violated in this instance.
“While we acknowledge Professor Oloyede’s openness in admitting JAMB’s failures, we must state unequivocally that the remedial steps taken so far fall drastically short of our constituents’ expectations”, they concluded.
