A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) based in Ebonyi State has expressed strong concerns over the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) selective resit of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing the initiative as ineffective and poorly implemented.
During a peaceful demonstration to the JAMB office in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the coalition—working in partnership with the Southeast Human Rights Civil Society Situation Room—criticized the resit arrangement, citing inadequate publicity and low candidate participation.
The protest attracted the involvement of other advocacy groups, including the SouthEast Women Network (SEWNET) and 50/50 Action Women.
JAMB had earlier announced a rescheduled UTME for over 300,000 candidates following the board’s admission of technical errors during the original exams.
Mrs. Helen Kalu, Programme Manager of Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), Ebonyi chapter, alleged that many affected candidates were not provided with a fair chance to retake the exam. She called for the complete cancellation of the 2025 UTME results, insisting they did not align with established performance patterns.
Describing the process as irregular and unjust, Kalu demanded an independent investigation to identify those responsible and ensure accountability.
“We are calling for a total annulment of the current UTME results and demand that a fresh examination be conducted for all candidates, with adequate notice and preparation time,” she stated. “Let original results be produced, even if it requires remarking the scripts to ensure fairness.”
Comrade Laureth Nwafor, another participant in the protest, described the situation as frustrating and demoralizing for candidates, urging the federal government to intervene and correct the anomalies witnessed during the exam.
In response, the JAMB Coordinator in Ebonyi State, Mrs. Doris Eno, assured the protesters that their complaints would be forwarded to the JAMB Headquarters for appropriate action.
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