Firstsitenews- The South-East Senate Caucus, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), has expressed serious concern over what it described as a “curious and highly suspicious” technical glitch during the recent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which disrupted exams in Lagos and, notably, across the entire South-East.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, Senator Abaribe said the caucus finds it troubling that such an incident occurred on a wide scale in one particular region. He warned against dismissing fears that there might be a deliberate agenda aimed at disadvantaging the educational future of children from the South-East.
While acknowledging the steps already taken by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), including the rescheduling of the exams and the public apology issued by Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the caucus emphasized that such an incident must never happen again.
“The open admission of fault and the tearful apology from JAMB were noted,” Abaribe stated. “However, such a public show of remorse should not serve as a smokescreen for any concealed agenda aimed at undermining the academic prospects of South-East students.”
The caucus further stated that the so-called technical glitch—given its regional scope—raises legitimate concerns that JAMB must urgently address to rebuild public trust and allay the fears of affected families.
“The deliberate or accidental marginalization of any region in national examinations endangers both national unity and the integrity of our education system,” Abaribe stressed. “Injecting ethnic or political bias into educational policy and implementation is a dangerous path.”
He reiterated the importance of education as a cornerstone of national development, warning that no child’s future should be put at risk due to systemic errors or discriminatory practices.
The caucus, he concluded, remains vigilant and under pressure from concerned constituents. It therefore demands clear, firm assurances from JAMB and other educational authorities that such a scandalous incident will never reoccur.
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