Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to release the results of 192,089 candidates withheld over alleged examination malpractice.
Ogah, who expressed strong dissatisfaction with the development, said failure to release the results within the stipulated time would prompt him to take legal action against the examination body.
The WAEC Head of National Office (HNO), Dr. Amos Dangut, had on Monday announced the withholding of the results of 192,089 candidates, representing 9.75% of the total number of candidates who sat for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He said the results were withheld in connection with various reported cases of malpractice.
Reacting to the announcement, Ogah described the action as unfair and a deliberate attempt to frustrate Nigerian students.
“It is very unfortunate that after candidates wrote both WAEC and JAMB examinations in preparation for university admission, WAEC would withhold their results on flimsy excuses,” he said.
“This act is capable of denying many young Nigerians the opportunity to gain admission into higher institutions,” Ogah added.
He questioned the rationale behind the withholding of results when WAEC officials, including supervisors and external examiners, were on ground to monitor the conduct of the examinations.
“WAEC has supervisors, examiners, and external monitors overseeing the examinations. If there was any malpractice, it should have been addressed immediately, not after the exams when students are already applying for university admission,” he said.
Ogah further alleged that such actions are not practiced in other West African countries like Ghana and accused the examination body of sabotaging the future of Nigerian youths.
“WAEC should release the withheld results within seven days or face legal action for abuse of office. If there was malpractice, the affected papers should have been canceled on the spot, not after the fact, when it becomes too late for the candidates,” he added.
