Senators representing the South-East region of Nigeria have issued a scathing condemnation of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over what they describe as a “deliberate and dangerous failure” of the recent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), alleging that a technical “glitch” disproportionately affected candidates from the region.
Speaking at a press conference held at the National Assembly complex, the South-East Caucus, led by Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okonkwo (Anambra Central), demanded an independent investigation into the cause and impact of the reported UTME disruptions.
“We will not sit idly by while a generation of our children is sabotaged through what JAMB tries to pass off as a technical glitch,” said Senator Okonkwo. “This is not the first time candidates from the South-East have raised alarm over systemic irregularities, and this time, the pattern is too glaring to ignore.”
Dozens of reports surfaced during and after the 2025 UTME indicating widespread login errors, biometric verification failures, and abrupt exam terminations—particularly in centers across Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi States. Many candidates were either not allowed to complete their exams or had their results withheld without explanation.
Senator Nneka Eze (Enugu North) described the situation as a “coordinated assault on educational equity” and called on the Ministry of Education to intervene immediately.
“What we are seeing is not a mere technical issue. It is a manifestation of systemic bias, and we fear it could be driven by a larger agenda to disenfranchise our youth and limit their access to higher education,” Senator Eze stated.