The South East Caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the resignation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, following alleged glitches in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The caucus insists that mere apologies are insufficient and that Oloyede's resignation would facilitate an independent review and restore public trust in the examination body.

The Leader of the Caucus, Hon. Igariwey Enwo, issued a statement expressing the inadequacy of JAMB’s response, citing poor communication, scheduling conflicts with WAEC examinations, and short notice for the re-sit, which has caused trauma for students and families. Consequently, the caucus demands an immediate cancellation of the 2025 UTME, rescheduling it after WAEC and NECO examinations to prevent disadvantaging students.

Additionally, the caucus calls for the suspension of key officials responsible for JAMB’s digital operations and logistics, emphasizing that all five South Eastern states were directly affected by score distortions. The caucus reminds JAMB of its constitutional duty to ensure equal educational opportunities for all Nigerian children, which they believe has been violated. Despite acknowledging Oloyede’s admission of failures, the caucus deems the remedial steps inadequate, criticizing JAMB’s reactive approach.

Reports indicate that the notice for the rescheduled UTME was too short, resulting in low turnout, and clashed with ongoing WAEC papers, compounding distress for students and families. The caucus reminds that JAMB, as a government agency, must uphold the fundamental obligations of government to its citizens, referencing Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which ensures equal educational opportunities at all levels.

The South East caucus also demanded a total cancellation of the 2025 UTME nationwide, requesting that a new date be fixed after the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE). The lawmakers expressed concerns that all five South East states were affected by technical glitches and called for the suspension of officials in charge of JAMB’s digital operations and logistics. The 2025 UTME had recorded mass failure, generating public outrage. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu called for an independent audit of JAMB’s examination infrastructure.

The caucus argues that JAMB’s response was inadequate. They highlight the insufficient notice given to traumatized students in the Southeastern states, many still taking WAEC examinations, to retake the rescheduled UTME. The Association of Tutorial School Operators advised moving the UTME to July/August, after WAEC and NECO examinations, to avoid disadvantaging candidates, advice which the caucus supports.

The caucus believes apologies and public relations are insufficient and calls for the suspension of those at the top of JAMB’s digital operations and examination logistics. They urge Registrar Ishaq Oloyede to resign to allow for a thorough examination and remediation of the issues. Daily Trust reported that JAMB's decision to grant exam retakes exclusively to candidates in Lagos and the South East, citing a technical glitch, has ignited fury and accusations of regional favouritism and marginalisation of Northern candidates.