The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over what he described as renewed hardship faced by candidates attempting to register for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
In a statement shared on his X handle on Monday, Obi expressed concern that despite last year’s outcry over similar challenges, authorities appear not to have implemented effective corrective measures.
He recalled that in 2025, students across the country, particularly at the Amawbia office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), endured severe difficulties following the proscription of several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres over alleged infractions.
“Last year, concerns were raised about the hardship students faced at various centres across the country, particularly at the Amawbia, Anambra State, office of JAMB, following the proscription of several CBT centres over alleged infractions,” Obi stated.
According to him, expectations that the situation would improve this year have not materialised.
He said that when he passed through the office last Friday, he was confronted with the same crowd, confusion, and apparent administrative disarray.
“Sadly, as I passed there again last Friday, I met the same crowd and confusion. Upon further inquiry, I was informed that similar situations exist in some other states across Nigeria,” he added.
Obi acknowledged that authorities may have legitimate grounds for sanctioning CBT centres found culpable of misconduct.
However, he argued that the enforcement approach should not result in punishing innocent candidates.
“While authorities may have valid reasons for sanctioning centres, a more balanced and humane approach is possible.
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“Centres under investigation could be allowed to continue offering limited services under strict monitoring to prevent further lapses,” he said.
He further suggested that where immediate approval of new centres proves difficult, previously accredited facilities could be temporarily reactivated under close supervision to reduce the mounting pressure on state offices.
With the registration deadline scheduled for February 26, Obi warned that the consequences could be severe, especially for candidates from rural communities who travel long distances to complete their registration.
“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 noted.
He cautioned that without urgent intervention, qualified candidates risk missing the examination through no fault of theirs.
“If nothing urgent is done, some will miss the examination — not for lack of preparation, but because the system failed them,” Obi said.
His comments come amid reports of registration challenges in several parts of the country, despite JAMB’s disclosure that over one million candidates have already registered for the 2026 UTME.
The examination body had earlier advised prospective candidates to apply early and warned against common technical setbacks, including biometric verification issues and late registration.
