The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has firmly rejected claims that the technical glitches experienced during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were part of a deliberate conspiracy against certain regions of Nigeria.

Speaking at a management meeting ahead of Wednesday's release of rescheduled examination results, Oloyede addressed the widespread speculation that the Board had intentionally compromised the results of candidates from the South-East.

"There was no deliberate attempt to undermine students from the South-East as every candidate is Nigerian and has equal opportunities," Oloyede stated, responding to allegations that have gained traction following technical issues that affected over 300,000 students in the five South-Eastern states and Lagos.

The meeting also observed a minute of silence for a candidate who reportedly died during the examination period, with Oloyede describing the incident as "regrettable."

This statement comes amid mounting pressure from lawmakers representing the South-East region. The South-East Caucus of the 10th House of Representatives has called for Oloyede's resignation and the complete cancellation of the examination nationwide.

In a statement signed by caucus leader Igariwey Iduma Enwo, the lawmakers described the examination's outcome as a "national shame" and demanded immediate action.

"We call for the immediate suspension of those at the commanding heights of JAMB's digital operations and examination logistics," the statement read. "The registrar of JAMB is said to be a good man, but then, leadership must carry consequences. We, therefore, call on the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to do the needful by resigning his appointment."

JAMB is expected to release the results for approximately 379,000 candidates who participated in the rescheduled examination on Wednesday. The technical issues have sparked broader discussions about the reliability of Nigeria's examination systems and the need for more robust digital infrastructure for national assessments.

There are also reports that Nigerian universities might consider accepting lower JAMB scores, potentially as low as 140, 150, or 160, for the 2025 admission cycle, though this information has not been officially confirmed by the Board.