By Parrot Newspaper 
JAMB Registrar Denies Conspiracy as Southeast Lawmakers Demand Resignation Over UTME Glitch
Abuja — Parrot Newspaper
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has firmly denied allegations that the recent technical glitch during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was a deliberate act targeting candidates from certain regions.
The glitch, which disrupted exams in the five South-East states and Lagos, has triggered public outrage, with widespread claims that the failure disproportionately affected students from the South-East. The uproar reached a boiling point this week, prompting calls for the cancellation of the UTME and the resignation of the JAMB boss.
Addressing top management staff at the board’s headquarters ahead of the release of results for rescheduled candidates, Oloyede described the claims as unfounded and politically charged.
“There was no attempt, deliberate or otherwise, to undermine any group of Nigerian students,” he said. “Every candidate is equal under our system, and we treat them as such.”
Oloyede also expressed sorrow over the death of a candidate linked to the UTME experience. The meeting observed a minute of silence in the deceased’s honor, with the Registrar describing the incident as “deeply regrettable.”
However, the explanation did little to quell rising tensions. On Tuesday, the South-East Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives issued a scathing statement condemning JAMB’s handling of the exam, labeling it a “national shame.”
Led by Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, the caucus demanded a complete cancellation of the examination and called for immediate disciplinary action.
“The registrar of JAMB is said to be a good man,” the statement read, “but leadership must carry consequences. We call on Professor Oloyede to resign and allow for an independent probe into the failures that affected over 300,000 candidates.”
The lawmakers also urged the suspension of key JAMB officials overseeing digital operations and exam logistics, accusing the board of failing Nigerian youths at a critical juncture in their academic journey.
JAMB Registrar Denies Conspiracy
While JAMB maintains that all affected students are being accommodated through rescheduling and system audits, the controversy continues to stir debate across the country, with stakeholders calling for reforms to safeguard future examinations.