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Several candidates who sat for the recently rescheduled 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have taken to X to share their excitement and testimonies about their improved scores.
Recall that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Sunday released the results of the recently rescheduled 2025 UTME.
JAMB shared the statement announcing the release of the results on its official X account.
About 379,000 candidates sat the rescheduled UTME.
The development came after widespread public outcry over mass failure during the initial UTME.
Recall that the examination board had claimed that over 1.5 million out of the 1.9 million candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME scored below 200 marks out of a possible 400.
The disclosure prompted widespread concern among stakeholders.
However, JAMB later admitted to technical and human errors and said that the development negatively affected candidates’ performance.
Sharing a result of one of the candidates via official X handle @winexviv, Alex Onyia, chief executive officer at EDUCARE, stated that students have been vindicated.
Onyia disclosed that an unnamed candidate who had gotten 170 in the initial exam now scored 301 in the rescheduled 2025 UTME.
“This is the first JAMB resit result I woke up with. This youngster was wrongly graded 170 due to the error and now 301 in just 48 hours of preparation.
“Finally, our students have been vindicated,” Onyia said
Reacting, David Busola posted: “Yes oooooo! I am soooo happy!! My daughter scored 302 in the resit exam!!! All glory to God! Thank you @winexviv”.
Also, Dumem #DubemSylvia wrote: “From 151 to 307. God is awesome”.
Another candidate with the name Ezubelu Valentine @EzubeluValrnti2 wrote: “First Jamb result 154. Resit Jamb result 333”.
Yusuf Ademola @Alqiblly also said: “I got 152 at first. With a little preparation now I got 278.”
Meanwhile, Samuel Olusanya @BigSam_Olusanya said: “My student that was given 146 now scored 332!
The one that was given 160 now scored 305! The one that was given 170 now scored 308! I’m the happiest teacher on Earth!”
Another X user Engreb @Engreeeb posted: “Thank you for all you did, my niece was wrongly credited with 161 previously and after the resit, she scored 285. JAMB nearly shattered her dreams of becoming a Nurse.”
Obiim @ Odogwuobi wrote: “@winexviv “Thank you sir, from the initial 172 to 313. I’m so happy”.
As the coalition drive to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 continues to gain momentum across the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress seems unsettled.
DAILY POST reports that some bigwigs in the opposition political parties and aggrieved members of the APC are currently teaming up ahead of the election, aiming at sacking the present administration.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal are among notable opposition figures spearheading the coalition talk.
National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ralphs Okey Nwosu is also one of the key personalities in the coalition movement.
Obi and Atiku candidacy
There are reports that Peter Obi may deputize Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.
The duo had contested for the nation’s number one seat in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the then incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Opposition figures, who believed that the election was rigged by the ruling APC, had challenged the outcome, insisting that Obi and Atiku won the election.
However, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Obi and Atiku (PDP) won 18 states, while the ruling party won 19 states, respectively.
INEC declared that PDP garnered 11,262,978 votes, losing the position to Buhari, who scored 15,191,847 votes.
In 2023, Obi and Atiku contested the “election on solo”. While Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Atiku had the PDP ticket.
Although President Tinubu won the election with 8,794,726 votes with Atiku and Obi scoring 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes each, the election was challenged up to the Supreme Court.
According to some political analysts, if Obi had contested the election as Atiku’s running mate, the duo may have scored over 13 million votes to sack the ruling party.
APC fidgets
DAILY POST gathered that the alignment of the opposition forces is not seating well with the ruling party.
It was gathered weekend that APC has formulated more cogent strategies to attract more governors and lawmakers into the party in a bid to have a stronger structure that would resist the coalition.
A source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said APC has resolved that “all first-time governors will have automatic tickets” to run for the 2027 elections”.
According to him, “the decision is that all first-time governors will be given automatic tickets and it’s not just a ticket, the party will fight for such a governor to ensure his re-election.
“So, most governors from the opposition parties, who are not sure of their victory are joining our party.
“For example, Akwa-Ibom and Delta State governors would have lost their re-elections if they remained in the opposition parties.
“In Delta for instance, Tinubu had settled for Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo as the next governor of the state.
“The governor knows that he cannot beat Keyamo, especially when backed by Tinubu so he decided to defect to APC.
“Regarding Akwa-Ibom State, if the Governor had refused to join APC, Akpabio could flush out his government by 2027. At the end of the day, it is all about personal interest”.
According to the source, the governors have also been allowed to handpick candidates for the national assembly.
Coalition faces setback
Some setbacks have started creaping into the proposed coalition particularly due to the choice of political party to be used as umbrella for the coming election.
DAILY POST gathered that following viral reports that the coalition adopted ADC, the party secretly amended its constitution to grant equal rights and privileges to incoming members.
The move was interpreted by insiders as a strategic step to accommodate high-profile defectors like Atiku, Obi and others ahead of the coalition.
However, the decision sparked resistance among some powerful stakeholders, especially from states, vowing that they will not relinquish their positions to new entrants.
Also, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, in a recent interview, ruled out the possibility of him stepping down for another candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In another confusing development, Peter Obi in a viral video on Friday said he would contest the 2027 election on the platform of the Labour Party, fueling speculations that the coalition may adopt LP.
However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh told DAILY POST weekend that the Labour Party is not aware of any coalition going on.
He insisted that the LP has no plan to accommodate other political parties.
According to him, “we are contesting the election on solo and we have said before that there would be no automatic ticket for anybody.
“If Peter Obi chooses to contest via the party, he will follow due processes right from the primary election. We have said earlier that there will be no automatic ticket for anybody.”
On Obi deputizing Atiku, Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of Obidient Movement, told DAILY POST that Obi is yet to decide.
“What I know is that Peter Obi has not told anybody that he is going to be a vice presidential candidate. He stands to contest as a presidential candidate.
“What we are having now is politicians who have a common interest coming together to plan ahead of the 2027 election”, he said.
[Daily Post]
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has explained why he may not be able to contest for presidency after 2027.
He said the 2027 general elections may be his final shot at the presidency.
Obi confirmed he would contest in 2027 on the LP’s platform and hinted at a possible exit from active politics after that.
He spoke in a seven-minute, 16-second video clip that has since gone viral. Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, confirmed the video saying “it was recent.”
Obi explained that he would be 65 in 2027 and might not be willing to pursue public office beyond that age.
He said: “I believe we should have a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, I will be 65.
“If the presidency goes back to the North in 2031, it may not return to the South until 2039 — by then, I will be 77. I wouldn’t want to run for office at that age. It would make a mess of everything”
Obi assured his audience of continued support for young Nigerians who are serious about national transformation.
“Even if I’m not contesting, I will always support those of you who are committed to real change, with whatever resources I can provide,” he stated.
[TheNation]
The growing conflict between the factions loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has intensified the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, threatening the planned 99th National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for May 27.
In a statement released on Sunday, Wike announced his withdrawal from the reconciliation efforts, blaming Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for the crisis within the PDP.
Anonymous sources within the PDP National Working Committee told The PUNCH that due to the ongoing crisis and the threat to the NEC meeting, the party’s Board of Trustees called for a meeting on Monday (today) in Abuja
Multiple sources disclosed that recognising the potential harm a postponement could cause to the party’s future, the reconciliation panel led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki held an emergency meeting with key stakeholders on Sunday night.
The PDP has been struggling with internal political turmoil before and after the 2023 elections.
Issues such as the political crisis in Rivers State, disputes surrounding the South South Zonal Congress, the position of National Secretary, and now the North Central Zonal Congress have further complicated the party’s stability.
Wike, backed by Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Taraba), and others, angered that decisions made by the National Working Committee and the PDP Governors’ Forum — largely influenced by Governors Makinde, Mbah, and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) undermined the political structure of the Minister Federal Capital Territory.
Despite interventions from key organs like the NWC, the Board of Trustees, NEC, and the Governors’ Forum, attempts at resolving the disputes have only widened internal rifts across states and zones. This ongoing discord has delayed the NEC meeting and hindered the party from making critical decisions about its direction.
The 98th NEC meeting, held on April 18, 2024, failed to resolve major issues, further fueling disunity. Though the 99th NEC meeting was initially scheduled for August 15, it faced multiple postponements—to October 24, then November 28—before being put off indefinitely.
Under increasing pressure, the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed, directed the NWC in December 2024 to convene the NEC no later than February 2025. This was reiterated during a meeting on January 31 in Asaba, where March 13 was suggested as the new date. However, the meeting was again postponed on March 8 to May 15, after further internal consultations.
Eventually, during a governors’ meeting in Ibadan on April 11, a new date of May 27 was set. To ensure it goes ahead, the serving and former governors seven-member committee led by former Senate President Saraki was formed to tackle remaining challenges.
On May 18, Sunday PUNCH exclusively reported that the South East, led by Governor Peter Mbah, along with governors like Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, as well as the PDP Board of Trustees, are opposing the Saraki-led committee’s efforts to reinstate Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary.
In response to their refusal to acknowledge his allies, Anyanwu, as Secretary and yield to his demands, Minister Federal Capital Territory, Wike on Sunday officially withdrew from all prior agreements aimed at resolving the PDP’s internal crisis.
The former Rivers State Governor citing repeated violations, accused Oyo State Governor of being the “chief culprit” behind the party’s troubles.
In a personally signed statement on Sunday titled “PDP Crisis: My Position,” Wike declared that the PDP has been plagued by “dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders,” and vowed to “fight on until justice is attained.”
“Since after the 2023 General election, the PDP has been wantonly swinging from one part of a slippery precipice to another, owing fundamentally to dishonesty and lack of trust amongst its key stakeholders,” the minister stated. “To stem this ugly trend, efforts have been made to arrest this pernicious virus of dishonesty and treachery and enthrone fidelity to agreements.”
Wike disclosed that during a G5 meeting in Lagos, he directly confronted Governor Makinde over what he described as a betrayal of trust, adding that there had also been a subsequent expanded meeting held at the Abuja residence of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, also attend by Governors Umaru Fintiri, Bala Mohammed, and where certain resolutions were reached.
Among the resolutions were “that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the National Secretary of the PDP in tandem with the Supreme Court judgement, all legal matters relating to Rivers State must be withdrawn by the National Legal Adviser, the suit on the State of emergency be withdrawn forthwith, and nobody should deviate from the agreements so reached,” he noted.
However, the former Rivers State Governor lamented that those resolutions were soon violated.
“It is disheartening to note that even before the Bukola Saraki Reconciliation Committee began its work, the gentleman’s agreement we reached at Saraki’s Guest House was already being crudely violated,” Wike said.
He specifically accused Makinde of working with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to undermine the agreement.
“Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mbah of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as secretary, they would pull out of the PDP.”
“Seyi Makinde organised some people in the National Secretariat to insist that the Deputy National Secretary should act as National Secretary, in violation of the agreement earlier reached,” he added
According to him, this led to confusion within the party’s leadership and affected official communications, including a situation where a letter properly signed by the National Secretary and Acting National Chairman confirming a gubernatorial candidate in Anambra was undermined through a rebuttal allegedly ordered by Makinde and Mbah.
“On the 24th of May 2025, in Jos, for instance, a well-publicised and properly attended zonal elective congress of the PDP was aborted because the letter inviting INEC to the congress was signed by the Deputy National Secretary… INEC refused to attend because the proper signatory recognised by law, that is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was not a signatory to the invitation notice,” Wike said.
Decrying the situation as “undeniably distasteful, provocative and annoying, Wike asserted that his commitment to the party since 1998 has never wavered, unlike those he accuses of “playing games to the detriment of the party.”
“I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained,” he concluded.
Attempts by our correspondents to obtain reactions from Governors Makinde and Mbah regarding Wike’s accusations were unsuccessful, as their Chief Press Secretaries refused to comment.
Responding to the renewed tensions, former Senate President Bukola Saraki pledged to persuade the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to rejoin the negotiation process.
Speaking through his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki gave this assurance during an exclusive phone conversation with our correspondent on Sunday.
He said, “Wike’s pulling out of the arrangement is not really a setback as you inferred. It’s just an indication that we still need to do more work and intensify more efforts.
“A mediator cannot be seen reacting to every issue arising conflicts otherwise in the process of speaking, he may say something that the various parties may misintepret.
“Even in the first statement issued by Wike, you can see where he referred to his position in the reconciliation committee.”
The former Senate President also warned that Nigerians, including stakeholders of the PDP, could not afford to allow the opposition go into oblivion, stressing that the development would see the country evolved into a one-party state.
“The alternative to PDP is one party state. The PDP goes beyond party. That is the only legacy party that is remaining. Out of the three parties with which we started this democracy, AD is gone, APP is gone.
“So, this is the only legacy party. Allowing it to die will be a major setback for democracy” he warned.
A source in the NWC who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, revealed that the Saraki-led panel summoned an emergency meetings late Sunday night.
He said the meeting was to pacify all leaders and to see if there was a way the NEC meeting could hold without complicating the crisis.
He stated, “As of now, with the latest developments, it is uncertain whether the NEC meeting scheduled for Tuesday will hold. However, the Saraki-led panel is meeting with some party leaders tonight.
“Those expected to attend the meeting, either in person or virtually, include Governors Seyi Makinde, Peter Mbah, Caleb Mutfwang, PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, among others.
“This meeting is critical—it will determine whether the NEC meeting will proceed, how peaceful it will be if it does, and, by extension, the future of the party.”
Another reliable source told The PUNCH that while Wike’s faction is resolute in its efforts to prevent the NEC meeting from taking place, the group aligned with Makinde is equally determined to hold the meeting in order to legitimize their actions and proposals.
Another source told The PUNCH that the PDP Board of Trustees was scheduled to convene in Abuja on Monday to address the ongoing crisis within the party.
He stated, “Wike’s camp is doing everything possible to prevent the NEC meeting from taking place. With the way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring a court order tomorrow to stop the NEC.
“I also know that Makinde and some other governors are making efforts to ensure the NEC meeting can hold peacefully. The Board of Trustees is expected to meet on Monday. So, the next few days will be critical for the future of the PDP.”
In a meeting notification signed by the party’s National Director of Publicity Chinwe Nnorom and obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday, the PDP confirmed that the Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for today.
The notification read in part, “The above subject refers, please. The leadership of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has scheduled a meeting to hold as follows: on Monday, May 26, 2025 (tomorrow) at The NEC Hall (Ground Floor), PDP National Headquarters, by 3:00 PM.
“Please endeavor to attend and punctually.”
In a related development, the PDP state chapters voiced differing opinions regarding the crisis affecting the major opposition party.
The Ekiti State PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dare Adeleke, stated that the behaviour and statements of Wike indicated that he was acting against the interest of the party.
Adeleke said the action and utterances of the FCT minister and former River State governor showed that “he has a hidden agenda.”
“I think he is working against the interest of his party, PDP. It is a devilish act for anybody that has reaped from the PDP, that has benefitted immensely from the party, to now turn around saying that the party must be dead. It is quite unfortunate. This is not democracy.
“We should condem this act – it’s an attempt to turn Nigeria to a one-party state. Forget whoever is involved. You said you don’t like Siminalayi Fubara, (the River State Governor under suspension), you said you are not happy that Fubara was not impeached, you are now the one bargaining with the governors to withdraw their case from the Supreme Court.
“To me, I think that is undemocratic and highly condemnable that the likes of Wike should not be part of democracy in this country.”
Additionally, on Sunday, the Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, Sunday Solarin, described Wike as a disengaged member of the opposition party adding that he was free to leave the party.
Solarin said, “For the past two years, what significant thing has Wike done to suggest that he is still a member of the opposition party, the PDP?
“What constructive criticism has he offered to this terrible government of the APC? What plans has he rolled out to bring the opposition back to power? Rather it has been unnecessary noise here and there.
“The truth is that Wike knows what he’s doing, he is only acting a script, he is looking for excuses to declare for APC but with or without him, the PDP will overcome its challenges.”
On his part, the Chairman of Gombe PDP, Mamman Kwaskebe, on Sunday said the party was unperturbed about what it described as the “antics” of the FCT minister.”
He said, “When Wike joined PDP he didn’t join from Gombe; he joined from his own Local Government Area in Rivers State. Whatever he is doing now is to dance to the tune of APC, we as a party will not succumb to that it’s is not part of our commitment and loyalty to PDP as a party.
“The PDP has a constitution, whatever is the level, he has done something extraordinary that no one can talk to him. We in Gombe are a PDP state.”
In Bayelsa State, PDP Chairman Solomon Agwanana stated that they had been anticipating Wike to quit the party.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Sunday, Agwanana said Wike had been working for the APC and had openly said he wanted President Bola Tinubu to return in 2027.
He added, “Though I do not know the details, the NEC is meeting on Tuesday and they will definitely address the matter.
“He is not a member of the PDP. We have been waiting for him to go and leave us alone. We know who he is working for.
“He is working for the APC and has stated publicly that he wants to return President Tinubu in 2027. That is not the only issue; he has threatened to seal our Wadada House. You can understand that he is working for his master.”
Furthermore, the PDP Sokoto State chapter spokesperson, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, declined comments on the latest development.
“We cannot talk anything about his (Wike) withdrawal at the state level, the committee was set up at the national level, so it is only the national headquarters that can talk about the development,” he added.
Also speaking, the Bauchi State PDP Publicity Secretary, Dayyabu Ciroma, declared that Wike’s time in the party is limited.
Ciroma, while stating that Nigerians were aware that Wike might not submit to reconciliation, noted that “Everyone knows that Wike is out to destroy PDP.
“All I can say is his days are numbered in PDP once the NEC meeting is conducted. The final decision is made on the party’s crisis at the office of the national secretary.”
On his part, Chief Osita Madu, former Deputy Publicity Secretary and a senior PDP figure in Anambra State, alleged that Wike was working to keep the PDP weak in order to justify maintaining ties with the APC.
He said, “Wike is an APC member in the day and PDP at night.
“The FCT minister is the real architect of the party’s present predicament. He is happy about the present state of the PDP because he knows that if PDP stabilises today, he will not have any justifiable reason to continue in the APC government, except he resigns.
“There are no two ways about it, Wike is the problem of the PDP and he should be bold enough to announce his resignation or defection from the party and stop being an APC in the day and PDP at night. Since 2023, what has he done to convince the people that he is still a member of the PDP?
“How is it possible that he is a member of this anti-people government of the APC and still claims to be a PDP member? He knows that he stands to lose out if the PDP stabilises today and that is why he is fighting tooth and nail to ensure the party remains weak.
“Truth be told Wike and the President knew what they are doing, they are looking for an excuse to perpetrate some scripts, especially in Rivers State with the 2027 elections as their aim.”
[Punch]
Former Governor of Rivers State and influential figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyesom Wike, has openly declared that he will no longer abide by any previous peace agreements made within the party. Wike said he has been pushed to the wall by what he described as persistent betrayal and political backstabbing by key figures in the PDP.
In a strongly-worded statement released over the weekend, Wike named Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and Peter Mbah of Enugu State as the key actors behind the party’s deepening internal crisis.
“Since the 2023 general elections, the PDP has been stumbling from one crisis to another. At the heart of this is dishonesty and a complete lack of trust among some of our leaders,” Wike said. “I’ve done my best to hold things together, but I’ve had enough. I will fight this fight to the end, and I will not rest until justice is done.”
Wike revealed that in an earlier meeting of the G5 governors in Lagos, he confronted Governor Makinde directly, accusing him of being the source of many of the PDP’s troubles due to his refusal to honour prior agreements. Although the meeting ended with a pledge to reconcile and move forward, Wike said that promise was short-lived.
A follow-up meeting in Abuja—attended by Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Adamawa Governor Umaru Fintiri, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki—produced a list of resolutions. These included affirming Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary in line with a Supreme Court judgment, withdrawal of all legal cases related to Rivers State, and the halting of a suit calling for a state of emergency.
Wike said he was persuaded to attend another stakeholders’ meeting at the Bauchi Government Lodge despite his busy schedule, where the group reaffirmed those resolutions and appointed Saraki to head a reconciliation committee.
But before the committee could even begin its work, Wike said, the agreements were already being violated.
“To my shock, Seyi Makinde and Peter Mbah were already working behind the scenes to sabotage everything we agreed on. They engineered a meeting of selected South-East leaders where they threatened to pull out of the PDP unless Ude Okoye was installed as National Secretary,” he alleged.
Wike also accused the two governors of manipulating party structures at the national level to undermine Senator Anyanwu’s authority, even pushing for the Deputy National Secretary to act in his place—actions he said were both illegal and provocative.
He pointed to the recent failed PDP zonal congress in Jos on May 24 as a clear consequence of the internal confusion. The congress, Wike said, was aborted after INEC refused to attend because the letter inviting the commission wasn’t signed by Anyanwu, the legally recognized National Secretary.
“This is frustrating and completely avoidable. What they’re doing is not just unlawful, it’s insulting to all of us who have built this party from scratch,” Wike said.
Reflecting on his long history with the PDP, Wike reminded Nigerians of his loyalty and sacrifices for the party since 1998, noting that many of those now undermining him had benefitted from his support.
“I had thought that we could keep the trust amongst us, but since it is now obvious that they would continue to play games to the detriment of the party, as is the case in the current debacle in the North-Central zonal elections, I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained.”
Ralph Nwosu, the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says coalition talks between opposition leaders will be finalised in a few weeks.
Some influential members of opposition parties have been spearheading a coalition aimed at unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
TheCable had reported that opposition leaders are finalising plans to adopt the ADC as the platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Nwosu said the party constituted committees that have met with those involved in the talks, including the civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens’ groups.
“ADC has started a process in the last 16 months, and what we have been doing is that beyond all the political talks about political leaders, we needed to touch the grassroots because the situation in the country will either one day call for a citizens’ revolt or a patriots’ coalition,” he said.
“Dr. Bamidele Jamilu Jade, one of the deputy national chairmen, is coordinating some arms of the political parties.
“Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad is also dealing with stakeholders in political parties.
“So, what I can tell you as the chairman is what we have done with the citizens and civil organisations.
“They have met a lot more. They have met Rotimi Amaechi, they have met almost all those who ran for president in 2023 either as aspirants or candidates. Dr. Ahmad have also met all the political parties.”
Nwosu said ADC would not be used as a “multipurpose vehicle” to be used and dumped by politicians after the party has served its purpose.
“We made it clear that any politician who thinks that ADC is a ‘molue’ for going to where they want to go, a multipurpose vehicle, must think again because that has made parties the weakest link in the chain of our democratic system,” the ADC national chairman said.
“That is wrong because the weakest link cannot create leaders that can create the kind of transformation that we want. ADC is certainly not the vehicle.”
[TheCable]
Popular Lagos-based cleric and spiritual leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has declared that Labour Party’s Peter Obi alone does not have what it takes to stop President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Speaking in a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the prophet said it would take more than Obi or the current opposition coalition to unseat Tinubu, who, according to him, has done relatively better than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
“Peter Obi alone cannot weaken President Tinubu’s ambition,” Ayodele said. “He can’t win the presidency by himself, and the opposition doesn’t yet have the people it needs to truly challenge Tinubu.”
While Ayodele didn’t reveal names, he claimed there are three individuals who could significantly alter the political equation if they decide to run or join the opposition movement.
“If any of these three key figures enter the race or align with the coalition, Tinubu should forget about 2027,” he warned. “Their involvement would shift everything.”
The cleric acknowledged Tinubu’s performance so far, saying the president has shown more effort than Buhari and has the potential to do better in a second term—if Nigerians give him the chance.
However, he advised that Tinubu must tread carefully, particularly in northern Nigeria, where betrayal could come from unexpected quarters.
“He must work on the North,” Ayodele cautioned. “If he doesn’t put the right people in key positions, his ambition could be cut short. There are people around him who might betray that trust when it matters most.”
The prophet added that the president would need to take three specific actions—though he did not disclose what they are—to secure a second term.
“2027 will be nothing like what we’ve seen before,” he said. “It won’t be a walk in the park. The presence or absence of these three mysterious figures will make all the difference.”
FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, dismissed recent endorsements for President Bola Tinubu by governors and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, calling them a sign of panic and desperation.
While the former Vice President expressed confidence in the coalition’s ability to defeat the APC in the 2027 elections, the PDP pointed to widespread dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s governance and economic policies.
Mazi Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, stated that the coalition remains unfazed by the endorsements, likening the situation to a student who has prepared thoroughly for an examination.
He said: “When you’ve prepared diligently for an exam, you can sleep soundly the night before, waking up assured of success. That’s the position of our coalition.
“Nigerians are the ultimate judges. Their endorsements will determine the outcome, not the political manoeuvrings of the ruling party. The recent endorsements reveal the panicked state of this administration. Insecurity is at an unprecedented level, with territories being reclaimed by insurgents in Borno State and other regions. The cost of living is unbearable. Families struggle to feed themselves, access healthcare, or send their children to school. As school fees are due, many are weighed down by these burdens. Yet, the government has done little to address these challenges, choosing instead to focus on political games.”
He also accused Tinubu’s administration of using anti-corruption agencies to pressure opposition figures into joining the APC.
“These defections are not driven by ideology or preference for the APC. Politicians are being held hostage and compelled to defect. Some of these individuals are being targeted for corruption, both by former governors and the current administration. They are being pressured to pay a ransom, which manifests as defections. This is what happened in Delta State and elsewhere. Even the so-called ‘quiet bomb’ that has been hinted at is a result of crimes committed by their predecessors. These are being used as leverage to shake them down, hold them hostage, and negotiate their defection to the ruling party.”
On his part, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Umar Bature, said endorsements don’t guarantee victory.
He recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan had the endorsements of 21 governors in 2014 but still lost the election.
Bature said: “Tinubu has 22 endorsements. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s just a matter of time. The issue isn’t endorsement; the issue is whether you’ve done the right thing for the country. Endorsements are merely cosmetic. People resort to them when they know they’re not serving the interests of the people they claim to represent.
“There is no crisis. Members are simply expressing their views. If they say they want to leave the party, time will tell. These matters will resolve themselves.”
[Vanguard]
As the 2027 elections draw closer, Chief Ayirimi Emami, a well-known leader in the APC, has made it clear to those who recently left the PDP and joined the APC that nothing will be handed to them on a silver platter.
Speaking to party members and supporters in Warri on Saturday, Emami was straightforward: joining the APC doesn’t guarantee anyone a spot to run for office. “It’s not true that if you come into the party from another one, your position is assured,” he said. “There’s no arrangement like that. Every seat will be open to competition.”
This comes at a time when some are speculating that former PDP members who defected might be given special treatment. But Emami was quick to put that idea to rest. He stressed that while the party welcomes everyone, no one should expect special favors.
“In Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North, we have strong candidates ready to contest the Delta South Senatorial seat,” he said. “We’re ready to work with new members, but everyone must earn their place.”
Despite the tough stance on internal democracy, Emami also praised the leadership of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and President Bola Tinubu, saying their efforts have helped grow the APC and attract fresh faces.
“President Tinubu’s performance has made the APC a strong platform, and without that, we wouldn’t be seeing this wave of defections,” Emami noted.
The meeting also featured other key APC figures, including Senatorial Chairman Austin Oribioye, Prince Yemi Emiko, and Sir Amorighoye Sunny Mene, who all commended Emami’s steady leadership.
In a strong show of support for the party’s future, former House of Assembly member Daniel Mayuku moved a motion to adopt President Tinubu as the APC’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election. The motion was seconded by Hon. Mofe Matthew Edema and unanimously approved by the gathering
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Sunday rejected claims by opposition parties that the National Assembly under President Bola Tinubu’s administration is merely a rubber-stamp institution.
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said such accusations do not reflect the reality of legislative-executive relations, particularly referencing the extensive process involved in the passage of the 2024 Tax Reform Bills.
In a statement released by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, Bamidele pointed out that the National Assembly, since its inauguration on June 13, 2023, has prioritised strategic engagement and constructive dialogue in addressing complex national issues.
Opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, have repeatedly accused the Godswill Akpabio-led Assembly of being subservient to the executive.
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Prominent figures such as NNPP’s National Leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and PDP chieftain, Dele Momodu, had in March labelled the legislature a rubber stamp.
However, countering these claims, Bamidele said, “If we are actually a rubber-stamp parliamentary institution as most opposition political parties have claimed, the bills would have been passed within one week or two weeks after they were laid before us.”
He explained that the 2024 Tax Reform Bills, introduced in November 2024, underwent rigorous scrutiny for six months before their eventual passage—an outcome that, according to him, demonstrates the independence and diligence of the legislature.
“In the process of passing the bills, both executive and legislative arms held over 39 engagements to thrash grey areas in the Tax Reform Bills, 2024, before both chambers of the National Assembly eventually passed the bills,” he said.
He added that the debates involved broad consultations with stakeholders across the country.
“During this period, the engagements involved diverse interests and stakeholders across the federation. The tax reform bills could have been rushed within one or two weeks. But it took us six months to secure input from all critical stakeholders—civil society organisations, professional bodies, religious leaders, and leaders of thought.
“The process includes all behind-the-scenes efforts, closed-door meetings and subtle disagreements that took place between the legislature and the executive before their passage. We also organised public hearings just to accommodate inputs from diverse interests,” Bamidele said.
He further noted that lawmakers consulted extensively with industry leaders to ensure the bills were comprehensive, effective, and in the best interest of Nigerians.
“We extended our engagements to all captains of industry to enable us to pass the tax reform bills that will stand the test of time, meet the needs of our people, and ensure the overriding public interest in the exercise of our constitutional mandates.
“At the end of it, we found a way of resolving all issues around the tax reform bills in the overriding public interest. But people do not know all the efforts and sacrifices we made to ensure the effective delivery of public goods. They were only eager to label us a rubber stamp when the bills came from the executive,” he stated.
Bamidele argued that the National Assembly chose collaboration over public confrontation, often inviting the executive for private deliberations to resolve contentious issues.
He also cited the example of the 2025 Appropriation Act, which was presented to the National Assembly on December 18, 2024, and passed nearly two months later on February 13, 2025.
He added, “If the National Assembly was actually a rubber stamp, it could have hastened the passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bills by the end of the 2024 fiscal year to sustain the January-to-December budget cycle, which has become the country’s practice in recent times.”
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Former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has ruled out the possibility of his political group entering into any coalition ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.
Aregbesola made this known on Sunday while addressing supporters at a reception organised by the Omoluabi Progressives—a political group he founded—in celebration of his 68th birthday in Osogbo.
The former Minister of Interior expressed confidence that his group would be well positioned for victory in the next election, noting that by his next birthday, the group would be closer to occupying the Governor’s Office in Abere.
“By this time next year, we will all be close to Abere (Osun Governor’s Office). May God make it so. So people are having untrue impression that we will align with anyone (in the governorship poll).
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“We are not going to align with anyone. We are going to pursue our political interest separately. No alliance with anyone or group. By the grace of God, this group will win.
We will contest and we will win. The election that will follow that of next year…”, Aregbesola said.
He also used the occasion to reflect on the importance of acknowledging one’s mother during birthday celebrations, emphasising the sacrifices made during childbirth.
“I am happy for this honour. I pray for you all, may you continue to succeed in all your endeavours.
“Whenever you are celebrating birthday, during the celebration, always remember to pray for your mother. The pains they endure during childbirth is enormous. So whether alive or late, birthday celebrations should be dedicated to prayers for mothers,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Moshood Adeoti, who served as Secretary to the State Government during Aregbesola’s administration, urged members of the Omoluabi Progressives to remain steadfast and committed to the group’s ideals.
Representing Governor Ademola Adeleke at the event, Biyi Odunlade praised Aregbesola for his contributions to the development of the state, describing his legacies as enduring and commendable.
“I celebrate you because you left a good template for good governance in Osun State that cannot be faulted by anybody. Your legacy of service is exemplary and remarkable, one that stands you out among your contemporaries,” Odunlade said.
The event was attended by numerous members of the Omoluabi Progressives, Aregbesola’s political allies from Lagos, and former appointees from Osun State
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, have recovered drugs worth about N6.5bn.
The drugs included more than six million pills of opioids, specifically Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg, as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the seizures at the Apapa and Onne ports followed intelligence gathering and the tracking of new trafficking routes used by drug cartels to smuggle illicit substances into Nigeria.
“This necessitated the watch-listing of the containers for 100 per cent examination. The consignments at the Port Harcourt ports: six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup were uncovered in two containers on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20, 2025, during a joint examination of the shipments by the NDLEA officers with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies, “ Babafemi added.
At the Apapa port in Lagos, he said a total of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered in a watch-listed container by the NDLEA operatives during a similar joint examination on Thursday, May 22.
He also said two British nationals and their Nigerian counterparts were arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs weighing 51.10kg into the country.
Babafemi said, “Two British nationals: Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, as well as two Nigerians: Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, have been arrested by the NDLEA operatives for attempting to smuggle into Nigeria 92 bags of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 51.10kg through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Alexander was intercepted with the consignment upon his arrival at the MMIA on a Qatar Airline flight from Doha based on processed intelligence on Thursday, May 15. He was allowed to pass through the security control unhindered and closely monitored by the NDLEA operatives to the car park, where the owner of the cargo, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, who is a Nigerian British, was waiting in an SUV along with his relation, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and the driver of the vehicle, Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, to receive the courier.
“The NDLEA operatives tracking them, however, swooped on them as they attempted to drive out of the airport car park, arresting them with the drug exhibits in the vehicle.’’
Babafemi said Alexander confessed that he was recruited during his vacation weeks ago, while he was promised 1,300 British Pounds after a successful delivery of the consignment in Lagos.
“The arrowhead of the syndicate, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, confessed that he arrived in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa through Ghana.
“A follow-up operation at their apartment in Lekki led to more discoveries. At the point of his arrest, N93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand were recovered from him while a search of his Lekki apartment led to the seizure of N3,810,500 cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max and four laughing gas (Nitro Oxide) canisters.”
In other operations, Babafemi said a total of 75,000 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on 30 hectares of cannabis farms by the NDLEA operatives at Esuk-Odot village in Odukpani LGA, Cross River state where 200kg of same substance was recovered on Wednesday, May 22, adding that 1,957.5kg of the same psychoactive plant was destroyed at Ohosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and Okhuse community forest, Owan West LGA, Edo State on May 23 and 24.
“In Nasarawa State, two suspects: Sunday Daniel, 51, and Abu Peter, 30, were arrested at Keffi by NDLEA operatives on Saturday 24th May when 4,000 kilograms of skunk were discovered concealed under unprocessed wood in their lorry, while another suspect, Godwin Obi, 39, was nabbed at Karu with 154.5kg of same substance on Wednesday, May 21.
“In Kaduna, the NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna – Zaria expressway at Gwargwaje on Wednesday 21st May, intercepted 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam, while same day their counterparts in Bauchi arrested Usman Muhammad, 45, along Bauchi-Misau road with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45kg, “ the statement added.
Similarly, Babafemi said operatives on stop-and-search operations along Potiskum–Damaturu road, Yobe state, intercepted 55 parcels of Colorado, weighing 2kg, which a suspect, Adum Muhammed, 29, was attempting to smuggle into the Republic of Chad through Ngamboru Ngala border town in Borno State.
“In Niger State, the NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba Road on Thursday, May 22, intercepted a Mercedes Benz car marked FST 938 FU loaded with 235 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 97kg and arrested a suspect, Adams Ayibakro.
“This is even as operatives in Lagos raided the Osapa London area of Lekki where they arrested a suspect, Jonathan Isa, with different quantities of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Molly, Rohypnol, Codeine, Cannabis and Nitrous Oxide, while another raid at Idasun, Eleko, Ibeju Lekki on Saturday, May 24 led to the arrest of Olamilekan Idowu and seizure of 48kg skunk,” he added.
The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party says it is excited with the prospect of having the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, run again on the party’s platform in 2027.
The LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.
He spoke on the backdrop of Obi’s declaration at the weekend that he intends to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition on the LP platform.
The LP is currently factionalised, with Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, backing Nenadi Usman to oust Abure from the party’s leadership position.
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A recent Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership tussle did little to clarify or resolve the question of who the legitimate leader is.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission affirmed the candidate put forward by the Abure camp for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election.
In spite of the leadership tussle, Obi declared he remained in the LP and would run for president on the party’s platform in 2027.
Asked for Abure’s reaction to Obi’s declaration, Ifoh said, “We are excited about the news. If we have waited all these while for two years with all the things that happened, we can still wait for tomorrow and the next, for the whole thing to crystallise. Then we can now begin to talk about the way forward.
“Let me start by saying politics is all about interest. The interest of every Nigerian, including the Labour Party, is to have a government that can help Nigerians come out of the doldrums and not enter into more crises, whether political, social or economic.
“I believe there are so many Nigerians who have that capacity and who can also help Nigeria come out. In 2023, we gave Peter Obi the ticket and he didn’t disappoint. Rather, the system disappointed them.”
When asked if Obi had reached out to Abure, Ifoh said the channel of communication between the duo was open.
According to him, the former Anambra governor still frequently has discussions with Abure despite the cold war between both parties.
“Well, as I said elsewhere, the line of communication is not completely blocked. There are talks, though not formal. But before the 2027 poll, don’t forget that we have Anambra elections a few months from now.
“Obi is from Anambra and we expect him to play a key role in making sure that the Labour Party wins the state. So, there has been rapprochement here and there. I think at the right time, the parties will meet and thrash all the differences. From there, we’ll move on.
“If he so wishes, as he said, that he will run the next election under the Labour Party, I think it’s a good thing for us in the party. It’s a win-win situation for everyone and we wait to see how we act the talk,” he added.
Obi’s declaration however seems to be having a ripple effect in the camp of the opposition coalition championed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
When contacted for a reaction, a key stakeholder of the coalition and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal expressed surprise at Obi’s statement.
“I don’t know what is in his mind. You need to ask Obi himself when you see him.
“I just read it today too that he will be contesting in LP,” he stated.
The development comes in the wake of Obi’s assurance to his supporters that he will contest the 2027 presidential election in the Labour Party.
Obi made this known while addressing some of his supporters in a viral video circulating on social media on Saturday.
Asked which party he intends to contest in the 2027 elections, Obi said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
The former governor also blamed the crisis in political parties on the Nigerian government.
He said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere.
“We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the President. I went to him then; he called the INEC chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.
“But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity.
“Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”
Obi charged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count because even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about whether the people’s votes count rests with voters.
The former governor also appealed to Nigerian youths and the electorate not to be discouraged because positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.
The ex-presidential candidate also stated that there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office.
Obi said that by the time the 2027 election holds, he would be 65 years old, adding that he would not want to be contesting for elections in his 70s.
No fewer than 200,000 more candidates crossed the 200 average mark in the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination after the recent resit organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination Board, following the technical and human errors that marred the original exam.
In the resit UTME results released on Sunday, JAMB noted that the majority of candidates — 1,365,479 (70.7 per cent) out of 1.9 million candidates — scored below 200 after both the original exam and the resit.
In the original results released by JAMB on May 9, 2025, over 1.5 million candidates out of 1.9 million candidates who took the exam had scored below 200 out of the total 400 marks, raising concerns in the country.
Following sustained pressure, JAMB investigated the cause of the mass failure and discovered technical and human errors in its system.
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Consequently, it announced a resit exam for 379,000 candidates in Lagos and the South-East states.
The results of the resit UTME were released on Sunday, revealing that a good number of the candidates, who previously scored below 200, crossed the average mark this time.
JAMB indicated that after the resit UTME, the number of candidates who scored below 200 marks shrank from over 1.5 million to 1,365,479, indicating that about 200,000 more candidates crossed the average score.
According to JAMB, the new results reflect an improvement in performance compared with previous years since the adoption of the Computer-Based Test format in 2013.
According to the report, 1,931,467 results were released in 2025, representing 100 per cent of the candidates who sat the examination.
This figure surpasses the 1,842,364 results released in 2024 and indicates a steady increase in UTME participation over the years.
In comparison, 8,401 candidates (0.46 per cent) achieved similar scores in 2024, while 5,318 (0.35 per cent) did so in 2023.
Earlier figures were generally lower, with only 724 candidates (0.06 per cent) scoring 300 and above in 2021, and none in both 2014 and 2013.
In the 250 and above category, 117,373 candidates (6.08 per cent) attained this range in 2025.
This is an increase from 77,070 (4.18 per cent) in 2024 and 56,736 (3.73 per cent) in 2023.
Similarly, “565,988 candidates, accounting for 29.3 per cent, scored 200 and above, compared with 439,961 (24 per cent) in 2024 and 355,689 (23.36 per cent) in 2023,” the report said.
Despite these improvements, the majority of candidates — 1,365,479 (70.7 per cent) — scored below 200 in 2025.
This represents a slight decrease from 76 per cent in 2024 and 76.64 per cent in 2023.
A year-by-year comparison reveals significant fluctuations in performance. For example, in 2021, only 168,650 candidates (13 per cent) scored 200 and above, whereas in 2016, 568,847 (34 per cent) achieved this range.
The number of high scorers has steadily increased in recent years, suggesting a trend of academic improvement and greater familiarity with the CBT system.
Since the introduction of CBT in 2013, JAMB has continued to refine its examination processes, and the 2025 results appear to reflect the positive impact of these efforts.
JAMB is expected to issue further statements on the implications of this year’s results for the tertiary admissions process.
The PUNCH reports that JAMB released the results of the resit examination conducted for candidates affected by a technical error during the 2025 UTME.
Recall that the initial results of the 2025 UTME were released on May 9. However, on May 14, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres in the Lagos and South-East zones had been compromised due to a technical glitch.
The registrar confirmed that affected candidates would be required to retake the examination.
He attributed the issue to faulty server updates, which hindered the proper upload of candidates’ responses during the first three days of the examination.
The results of the over 41,000 under-16 candidates and the 379,775 candidates who sat the rescheduled Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination in the South East and some Centres in Lagos have also been released by the Board.
The Board made this known in a statement on Sunday.
“The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the results of the recently conducted 2025 UTME resit examination for candidates at centres impacted by the unfortunate incident.
“While this situation is unfortunate, it has also revealed numerous alarming practices perpetrated by candidates, certain Proprietors of Schools/Computer-Based Test centres, which have exacerbated examination irregularities,” the board said.
“As part of the healing process, the meeting resolved that the withheld results of the underage candidates (except where litigation is involved) who performed below the established standards be released. Such result does not, however, qualify them for admission, as they had previously signed an undertaking during the registration process acknowledging that only those who meet the prescribed standards would be considered for under-aged special admission.”
With the release, the number of candidates who scored less than 200 in the 2025 UTME now stands at 1.3 million from the earlier 1.5 million.
Candidates who scored 200 and above now stand at 565,988.