Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has praised the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for his transparency and accountability in addressing the technical issues that affected 379,997 UTME candidates.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Obi expressed deep concern over the recurring technical challenges within key institutions like JAMB, stressing the serious consequences they pose to the nation. He emphasized that such glitches must be addressed swiftly to prevent them from escalating into a national crisis.

“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,” he said.

The ex- Anambra governor recommended that JAMB adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks, prioritising transparency and rigorous technical testing to prevent future issues.

“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,” he stated.

Obi emphasized that JAMB, along with all other government agencies, must prioritize smooth and error-free operations going forward.

In his words,”There must be no room for further glitches, not in JAMB, not in any arm of government as the cost of repeated failure is simply too high.”

According to reports, a total of 379,997 candidates from the five states in the South-East geopolitical zone, as well as Lagos State, were impacted by the technical glitches during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

This information was revealed by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday.

Oloyede said,”206,610 in 65 centres were affected in Lagos and 92 centres in Owerri zone comprising of 173,387 candidates in the five states of the South East were affected.”