ABUJA — A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, has issued a stern seven-day ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to release the results of 192,089 candidates withheld over alleged examination malpractice.
Ogah, who represents Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, threatened legal action against the examination body if it fails to comply within the stipulated timeframe.
Reacting to WAEC’s announcement on Monday that nearly 10% of this year’s results were withheld due to suspected malpractice, Ogah expressed outrage, calling the move “sabotage” and “unacceptable.”
“It is very unfortunate that after candidates have written WAEC and JAMB in preparation for university admission, WAEC will withhold their results on flimsy excuses,” Ogah said. “This act frustrates young Nigerians and denies them access to higher education.”
According to WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, the results of 192,089 candidates — representing 9.75% of those who sat the exam — were withheld due to alleged infractions.
But Ogah challenged the credibility of the claims, arguing that WAEC officials — including supervisors and external examiners — were on ground during the exams and raised no complaints at the time.
“If there was any malpractice, the exams should have been canceled on the spot,” he said. “You don’t wait until candidates are processing their university admissions before withholding results and destroying their future.”
The lawmaker also compared WAEC’s handling of results in Nigeria with its operations in other West African countries.
“They don’t do this in Ghana or other West African nations. Why always Nigeria? Why are our young people the ones being punished?” he queried.
Ogah insisted that WAEC has one week to release the withheld results or face a lawsuit for abuse of office.
“This is a call for justice. WAEC must release those results or be ready to meet us in court,” he declared.
Comments