By Abiola Olawale
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over what he described as hurdles facing candidates in the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration.
Speaking on Monday after observing the scenes at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office in Amawbia, Awka South, Obi warned that the bottlenecks could disenfranchise thousands of aspiring students.
Obi said he witnessed firsthand the overcrowding and confusion that characterize the ongoing registration exercise. He noted that despite similar issues occurring in 2025, no visible corrective measures appear to have been implemented.
“Last year, concerns were raised about the hardship students faced at various centres across the country, especially at the Amawbia office of JAMB after several CBT centres were shut down. The expectation was that corrective measures would be taken,” Obi said.
“Sadly, when I passed there again last Friday, I met the same crowd and confusion. Further inquiries revealed that similar situations are being experienced in some other states across Nigeria.”
The former Anambra State governor acknowledged that regulatory authorities may have legitimate reasons for sanctioning erring centres but urged them to adopt measures that would not unduly punish candidates.
“While authorities may have valid reasons for sanctioning centres, a more balanced and humane approach is possible. Centres under investigation could be allowed to render limited services under strict monitoring to prevent further lapses,” he stated.
He also suggested that where approval of new centres may be delayed, previously accredited centres could be temporarily reinstated under close supervision to ease pressure on state offices.
With the registration deadline for the 2026 UTME set for February 26, Obi warned that the situation could have severe consequences for candidates, particularly those from rural communities.
“With registration ending on the 26th, the consequences are serious. Many candidates travel from distant villages, some even sleeping in Awka to secure access,” he said.
“If nothing urgent is done, some will miss the examination — not because they are unprepared, but because the system failed them.”
Obi stressed that students should not be made to bear the brunt of systemic shortcomings.
His remarks come amid reports of registration challenges in several parts of the country, even as JAMB disclosed that over one million candidates have already registered for the 2026 UTME. The examination body has consistently advised candidates to apply early and warned against technical issues such as biometric failures and late submissions.
