JAMB 2026 Mock: Candidates, Parents Decry Glitches, Power Outages

The 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, (UTME) organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), scheduled for Saturday in Asaba could not be concluded.

The examination witnessed massive disappointment for candidates as JAMB technical connections failed to activate the majority of computer sets programmed for the examinations at various centers in Asaba Delta State.

Most pathetic was that there was no electricity to power the computer sets while the candidates were asked to go after waiting endlessly until it was discovered that the centers did not have generator to power the systems.

Unfortunately the second set of the candidates were unable to write the examination since the first set of candidates could not finish owing to the inability of the center to power the computer sets for the candidates to be able to finish the examination.

A thorough investigation of the development indicated that the JAMB technical failure happened in virtually all JAMB accredited centers within Asaba and environs especially Institute of Continuing Education Center, Asaba, leaving the prospective undergraduates frustrated as there were no explanations from JAMB or the centers.

A candidate who does not want his name mentioned stated, “We are the first set timed to write the examination by 6:30 am. We actually started but at the middle of the examination, electricity went off. We expected the centre to put on generator but over one hour nothing happened. At the end they asked us to go saying it was just a mock examination.

“Our fear now is that we are not sure the examination would be submitted because we did not finish. If it is not submitted how do we know our scores? Thank God it is not the examination proper, we will then be talking of mass failures.”

Meanwhile, parents have decried the loss of time, money and others wanted over the mock examination, saying that both JAMB and the centers were not prepared for the task

According to some parents, the failure of the examination is a problem coupled with the time the candidates were told to come and write the examination, urging JAMB to address these concerns ahead of the main UTME 2026 scheduled to commence in about two weeks time nationwide

A parent, simply called Madam Mary also complained that the 6:30am exam center report time set by JAMB was too early for the young students especially in view of the security situation of the country.

“This is another JAMB show of shame. We came from a far distance. We woke up as early as 4:00am just to meet up with the 6:30am time only to get here and the who thing is a mess. Considering the risk we took to get here. Honestly, JAMB is not ready at all and something has to be done, urgently,” Mary lamented.

Mrs Stella Macauley, Director Public Communication/Functional Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Delta state when contacted, said it was JAMB affair, except that the state government said there would not be restrictions of human and vehicles despite the monthly sanitation exercise in the state.

All attempt to get reactions from JAMB officials and the centers were not successful except one official who reluctantly said the situation will improve subsequently.

Technical failures by JAMB forced a repeat of the 2025 UTME especially in the SouthWest and SouthEast during which massive failure was recorded.