JAMB Faces Lawsuit as 2025 UTME Candidates Protest Mass Failure and Technical Glitches
By Alphayem News — Education Desk
Fresh controversy is rocking the Nigerian education sector as thousands of candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) prepare to take legal action against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The planned lawsuit comes amid widespread complaints of technical glitches, incomplete questions, and unexpected low scores that left many students and parents furious.
For context, the 2025 UTME had nearly 1.9 million registered candidates. But when results were released, over 1.5 million reportedly scored below 200 out of the total 400 marks, sparking accusations of systemic failure and negligence by JAMB.
How the Controversy Began
When JAMB released the 2025 UTME results, candidates and parents were shocked to discover that more than 75% of candidates failed to score 200 or above. This mass failure was unprecedented in recent years. While the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, claimed that the outcome reflected JAMB’s effective crackdown on examination malpractice, many stakeholders disagreed.
According to candidates, the failure was not due to poor preparation but rather technical errors during the examination itself. Complaints included missing questions, poorly loaded screens at CBT centres, and system glitches that made it impossible to complete certain sections of the exam.
The Planned Lawsuit
On Sunday, Alex Onyia, a popular education advocate and the CEO of Educare, announced that legal proceedings would commence at the Federal High Court against JAMB. Onyia revealed that over 8,000 students had already submitted formal complaints to his organisation, demanding transparency and accountability from the examination body.
“Currently, we have 8,391 students who have sent in their complaints regarding the glitches in the JAMB 2025 exam,” Onyia posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, @winexv. “There is ample evidence to prove that JAMB’s system was inefficient, thereby causing serious harm to these students’ mental health.”
He further explained that the lawsuit seeks to compel JAMB to release detailed mark sheets for all candidates, allowing them to see the exact answers they provided, what was marked wrong, and how scores were calculated. “The destinies of these students are at stake,” he warned.
Voices from the Affected Candidates
Beyond official statements, candidates themselves have been vocal. One candidate who sat for the exam at a CBT centre in Maitama, Abuja, told reporters:
“During the examination, my Use of English questions were incomplete. I raised the issue, and many others had the same problem. When my result came out, I scored 170. This is not a fair reflection of my efforts.”
Another candidate expressed shock at her result:
“Last year I scored 287, this year I got 173. Several others who wrote on the same day also complained about incomplete English questions. This result cannot be mine.”
Parents, too, are demanding accountability. A parent of one of the candidates stated:
“We demand a remark from JAMB. These are brilliant students, yet they scored below 200. Many complained of incomplete questions and technical hitches. JAMB must address this transparently.”
JAMB’s Silence Raises More Questions
Despite the uproar, JAMB has yet to issue an official, detailed response addressing the specific technical complaints. Efforts to reach the Board’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, for clarification were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The silence has only fueled anger and distrust among candidates and parents, many of whom believe that the Board is attempting to sweep the issue under the rug.
Expert Opinions and Wider Implications
Education experts warn that the 2025 UTME crisis could further erode confidence in Nigeria’s examination system. With nearly two million candidates relying on JAMB for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, such controversies put the credibility of the entire admission process at risk.
Some experts have called for an independent audit of JAMB’s systems and the establishment of a more transparent appeal process for candidates who dispute their scores. Others have suggested a shift towards decentralizing examinations to reduce reliance on a single body.
What Should Candidates Do Now?
While the lawsuit plays out, affected candidates are advised to:
- Monitor official updates via the JAMB website.
- Submit formal complaints through official JAMB channels while retaining evidence of glitches experienced during the exam.
- Follow education advocates like Alex Onyia for legal and procedural updates.
- Continue preparations in case JAMB reschedules exams for any category of candidates, as was recently done in select states.
For admission-related news and application updates, check our 2025/2026 Admission Updates page or visit our Education section.
Conclusion: Restoring Trust in Nigeria’s Admission System
The 2025 UTME controversy has exposed deep cracks in Nigeria’s examination system. Whether due to genuine malpractice prevention or system failure, the outcome has left thousands of candidates disillusioned. The lawsuit against JAMB may set a new precedent in demanding transparency and accountability from educational institutions in Nigeria.
As stakeholders await the court’s decision, one thing remains clear: the future of thousands of Nigerian youths depends on a fair, reliable, and transparent admission process. JAMB must act swiftly to restore confidence in its systems or risk further damaging the credibility of higher education in the country.
Published by Alphayem — your trusted source for education and admission news in Nigeria.
