UTME Candidates Express Frustration Over Mop-Up Exclusion
Candidates affected by technical glitches during the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have voiced their frustration after being excluded from the upcoming mop-up examination. Despite reporting their issues to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), many discovered they were not scheduled for the rescheduled test.
JAMB had announced that eligible candidates could print their notification slips for the 2026 Mop-Up UTME, scheduled for Saturday, June 13. In a statement released on Sunday, June 7, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin explained that the mop-up exam is intended for candidates who faced technical challenges or biometric verification failures during the main exercise. He emphasized that this is the final opportunity for eligible candidates to sit the 2026 UTME, with no further examinations planned.
Candidates Share Their Experiences
Yunus, a candidate who spoke with Legit.ng, recounted his ordeal at the Matrix CBT Centre in Ilorin. He said officials collected his examination slip and assured him of rescheduling, but his profile now shows no exam scheduled. Similarly, Abdulhafeez reported that his sister experienced a system failure and filed a complaint via JAMB's ticketing platform, yet received no response and was not included in the mop-up list.
Social media platforms have been flooded with complaints. Emmanuel posted that his status shows he is not eligible. Muhammad Bashir Sunusi called for equal opportunities, stating he submitted all necessary documents but was denied. David, who could not complete his exam due to technical issues, described the mop-up as his last hope. David Oscar noted that candidates at Hilltop CBT Centre in Benin had their slips collected for rescheduling but were not included.
JAMB's Stance and Candidate Anxiety
JAMB has reiterated that the mop-up examination is the final chance for eligible candidates in the 2026 UTME cycle. However, affected candidates are increasingly anxious as the board has not publicly addressed their complaints. As of this report, no official response has been issued regarding the exclusion of those who reported technical glitches.
In related news, JAMB recently released 279 previously withheld UTME results after reviewing malpractice cases. Some results were cleared following investigations, while others remain withheld as scrutiny continues at flagged centres.
