A senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Christian Okeke, has called for the immediate resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, following the widespread technical failures recorded during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Dr. Okeke described the registrar’s recent emotional apology as inadequate, insisting that only his resignation and the full release of authentic results would restore confidence and justice for the affected candidates.
“How can the Registrar’s tears resurrect the dead or address the depression into which many candidates have been plunged? The situation resembled a national mourning,” he said. He also labelled JAMB’s plan to reschedule the examination in selected centres as “insensitive to human emotions.”
The academic accused JAMB of initially denying responsibility for the lapses, stating that the board only admitted fault after sustained public pressure and threats of legal action.
“The least that is acceptable from the board is to publish the true results, offer psychological support to affected candidates, and hold those responsible accountable—starting with the registrar’s resignation,” Okeke added.
This comes as JAMB officially acknowledged faults in its system, which rendered the UTME results invalid in several centres across the country. Prof. Oloyede, while addressing journalists on Tuesday, issued a public apology and announced that 379,997 candidates would retake the examination between May 16 and 18.
The affected centres include 65 in Lagos and 92 within the Owerri Zone, covering the five South-East states: Imo, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu.
“I appeal to the candidates and those affected by the error of our system to accept this explanation as the truth of the matter without embellishment. I apologise and take full responsibility—not just in words,” Oloyede said, visibly emotional.
He attributed the failure to negligence on the part of some JAMB staff and assured that corrective measures were underway to prevent a recurrence.
However, the apology has done little to quell growing dissatisfaction, as pressure continues to mount from education stakeholders demanding deeper reforms and leadership accountability within JAMB.
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