Peter Obi Commends JAMB Registrar For Admitting To Glitches In 2025 UTME

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has praised the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, for admitting to the technical issues that affected the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

On Wednesday, Ishaq Oloyede became emotional during a press conference in Abuja as he admitted that errors during the exam process had negatively impacted candidates’ scores.

He acknowledged the board’s shortcomings, announcing that nearly 380,000 students would have to retake the exam due to the problems that occurred during the test.

The admission came after widespread complaints from students and parents over technical failures, questionable results, and inconsistencies in the exam questions and answers.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, Peter Obi said he appreciated the registrar’s honesty and public apology, calling it a rare show of accountability in Nigerian public service.

He, however, said the incident revealed deeper issues that must be urgently addressed, emphasizing that the credibility of exams and the trustworthiness of institutions are vital to the nation’s progress.

Obi, who called for immediate reforms to strengthen JAMB’s processes, urged the board to implement strict quality control measures, test its systems more thoroughly, and maintain open and honest communication with candidates and the public.

Taking to his X page, he wrote: “Let’s not make Glitches Become a National Crisis

“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.

“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.

“While JAMB’s swift response and willingness to own up to its shortcomings are worthy of recognition, the incident has brought to light a far more troubling reality: the persistent fragility of our institutional systems.

“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.

“The integrity of examination processes and the reliability of public institutions are not optional; they are foundational to any nation’s progress.

“Going forward, JAMB and similar critical bodies must adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks. This includes rigorous testing and constant auditing of technical infrastructure.

“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. A new Nigeria is POssible.”

Meanwhile, a senior lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka (UNIZIK), Dr. Christian Okeke, has called on the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to resign from his position.