Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections, has weighed in on the technical glitches that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), warning that recurring failures in critical national systems could erode public trust and have devastating consequences.
Obi’s comments followed the admission by Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), that technical challenges affected the results of 379,997 candidates in the just-concluded exam cycle.
Oloyede, in a press briefing, on Wednesday expressed regret over the disruptions, acknowledging fault and apologising to affected students.
“I recently watched the heartfelt press conference delivered by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, in which he acknowledged that technical glitches had affected the recently released JAMB results, impacting 379,997 candidates. His open admission of fault and the expression of deep remorse stand out as a rare but commendable display of accountability in our public institutions,” Obi said in a statement on Thursday.
While he praised JAMB’s transparency and swift response, Obi said the situation raises deeper concerns about systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s institutions.
“But it raises a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc it’s creating in our country, even in critical institutions like JAMB,” he noted.
Obi emphasised the far-reaching implications of such failures, especially on the emotional well-being of students and their families.
“The emotional and psychological toll on students, and even parents, some of whom have reportedly suffered severe trauma, and in heartbreaking cases, even death, serves as a reminder of what is at stake,” he stated. “The integrity of examination processes and the reliability of public institutions are not optional; they are foundational to any nation’s progress.”
The former Anambra State governor called for urgent reforms and stronger systems across government bodies, particularly in agencies that handle large-scale, high-stakes operations.
“Going forward, JAMB and similar critical bodies must adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks. This includes rigorous testing and constant auditing of technical infrastructure,” he said. “Moreover, transparent communication with candidates and stakeholders, coupled with the prompt resolution of arising issues, is essential to restoring public confidence.”
“There must be no room for further glitches — not in JAMB, not in any arm of government. The cost of repeated failure is simply too high.”
