A coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Ebonyi State has condemned the rescheduled 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, labeling it as “inactive.”
The group, working alongside the Southeast Human Rights Civil Society Situation Room, staged a peaceful protest to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board office in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital on Tuesday.
The demonstrators expressed dissatisfaction with the short notice given for the resit, which they said led to a poor turnout of affected candidates.
The march also saw the participation of the SouthEast Women Network and the 50/50 Action Women group.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, JAMB had earlier admitted a technical glitch affected over 300,000 candidates and subsequently announced a rescheduled exam.
However, Programme Manager of the Women’s Aid Collective in Ebonyi, Mrs. Helen Kalu, criticized the process, insisting that those affected were not adequately given a chance to retake the examination.
“We are asking for a total cancellation and given fresh examination for all candidates at a given notice.
“When that happens, let the authorities produce original results written even if it means remarking and giving the candidates their proper results.
“We asked that all measures be put in place,” she said.
Kalu further alleged that the conduct and outcome of the 2025 UTME deviated from standard procedures and called for a probe to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Echoing the same sentiments, Comrade Laureth Nwafor described the situation as deeply troubling.
She said, “The whole process is painful and frustrating,” and urged the federal government to intervene and correct the irregularities recorded during the examination.
Responding to the protesters, the JAMB Coordinator in Ebonyi State, Mrs. Doris Eno, assured the group that their grievances would be forwarded to the Board’s headquarters for further action.