Why South East Only?” IPOB Lawyer Accuses JAMB Of Bias Amid Exam System Glitch

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, legal counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has expressed serious concerns over the system glitch that disrupted the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, affecting a large number of candidates from the South East and Lagos State.

Ejiofor suggested that the glitch appears less like an accident and more like a deliberate attempt to undermine the South East region.

In a statement released on Thursday, the IPOB lawyer highlighted that the technical failure in JAMB’s system is indicative of a wider institutional breakdown across the country.

While acknowledging the efforts of JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, for admitting responsibility and pushing for transparency and reforms, Ejiofor urged for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s institutions.

The statement read:
“Despite commendable progress under the leadership of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, especially in enhancing transparency and operational reforms, the recent controversies surrounding the 2025 UTME results and the confirmed technical glitches expose a deeper problem — a systemic failure that continues to inflict preventable damage.

“Most notably, the states hardest hit by these technical issues were from the South East and Lagos, a pattern that raises serious concerns. This does not seem like mere coincidence but rather an intentional act of regional disenfranchisement, particularly against a backdrop of increasing political intolerance and exclusion.

“Tampering with access to higher education, one of the few remaining avenues for equality, threatens the very foundation of national unity.

“This is not just a JAMB problem; it is a national crisis. What we are witnessing reflects broader institutional decay marked by inefficiency, corruption, and negligence across all arms of government and beyond. Public service is deteriorating under impunity and weak accountability.

“Even more worrying is the growing authoritarianism, where efforts to stifle opposition and cover up failures with propaganda are becoming commonplace. No nation can prosper by silencing truth or suppressing reform.

“This is a call to action: superficial solutions must end. Nigeria urgently requires a fundamental overhaul of its institutions — not only to restore public confidence but to build a future worthy of hope.”