The Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has expressed worry over the challenges applicants experience when registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Obi decried the hardship encountered by students at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board's Amawbia office in a statement posted on his X account on Monday, portraying the situation as a rerun of last year's challenges.
"Last year, questions were raised regarding the difficulty students suffered at various sites across the country, particularly at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board's office in Amawbia, Anambra State, following the proscription of numerous CBT centres for alleged breaches. "It was expected that corrective steps would follow. Unfortunately, when I drove by there again last Friday, I encountered the same mob and chaos. After additional investigation, I learned that similar circumstances exist in several other states across Nigeria," he stated.
The former governor of Anambra State stated that, while authorities may have valid reasons for banning Computer-Based Test Centers, a more balanced approach should be taken to protect pupils from the consequences.
"While authorities may have legitimate reasons for punishing centers, a more balanced and humane approach is feasible. To avoid similar failures, centres under investigation may be allowed to continue providing limited services while being closely monitored. "If it is difficult to approve new centres quickly, the authorities could still make temporary use of previously approved centres under close supervision to ease the pressure on state offices," he said.
With the registration deadline nearing on February 26, Obi underlined the serious ramifications for candidates, particularly those from remote rural communities.
"With registration closing on the 26th, the ramifications are severe. Many hopefuls go from remote areas, often overnight in Awka, to gain admission. "If nothing urgent is done, some will miss the examination — not for lack of preparation, but because the system failed them," according to Obi.
He went on to say that pupils should not bear the brunt of systemic inadequacies.
Obi's statement comes as there have been complaints of registration issues across the country for the 2026 UTME, despite the fact that JAMB claims over a million applicants have already registered.
The board had previously recommended early applications and cautioned against technical problems such as biometric glitches and missed deadlines.
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