Education
Exclusive: Confusion As Thugs Disrupt NUT Election In Ogo- Oluwa LG
Mega Icon Magazine exclusively gathered that there was palpable tension and confusion in Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo Oluwa local government area of Oyo State on Tuesday, as suspected thugs invaded Ajaawa town hall and disrupted the processes of electing new leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogo-Oluwa local government wing.
It was also gathered that the thugs were allegedly sponsored by the Caretaker Chairman in the council, Mr. Oluwaseun Ojo to disrupt the process in order to prevent election from holding and impose candidate of his choice, one Mrs Kadewole Obalade to emerge as the chairperson of the NUT in the local government.
The Council boss, it was allegedly gathered mobilized the thugs alongside members of the newly inaugurated Amotekun Corps to the venue of the election to threaten and prevent delegates that would vote in the election from entering the venue.
Mega Icon Magazine, further gathered that when the atmosphere became tensed and rowdy, the policemen from Ajaawa Divisional police station, were invited to the venue on the order of the Chairman to forcefully suspended the election under the pretext that they did so to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Some members of the union who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the Caretaker Chairman of the council, Oluwaseun Ojo has been making frantic efforts to impose his candidate, Mrs Kadewole Obalade on the union against their preferred candidate, Mr Oyeyinka for selfish reason.
They revealed that part of his plan was that he used his power as the council Chief to ensure the transfer of their candidate , Mr Oyeyinka Ezekiah Olasupo, Mr Adeniran Isaiah Adewale and one other from Ogo Oluwa to Atiba local government in Oyo through a member of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission board, Alhaja Nusiratu who happened to be his ally.
They wondered why the council gaffer would intervene in the affairs of a professional and independent body like teachers that is non-partisan and guided by the ethics of their profession in the name of politics.
According to them, “we want to let the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde and the entire people of the State know that the harmonious relationship that is existing among the teachers in Ogo Oluwa is being threatened by the Chairman of this local government in person of Mr Oluwaseun Ojo who is hell bent to impose a candidate on us to lead us in our union for his selfish motive. This is unacceptable and we are ready to rebuff his action.
“We want His Excellency to call him to order to stop interfering in our internal affairs because we are not politicians. Whatever affects teachers will affect teaching profession and can equally have negative impact on the quality of teaching we are giving to our pupils and students”, they lamented.
But, the Caretaker Chairman of Ogo Oluwa local government, Mr. Oluwaseun Ojo has denied the allegation that he sponsored thugs to disrupt the election, stressing that he only provided security for the union to prevent violent during its botched election.
The council boss, in a telephone conversation with our reporter explained that he had held a meeting with all the concerned members of the union for about three to four times for them to allow peace to reign which did not yield any positive result, adding that as the chief security officer in his local government, it was his duty to forestall anybreak down of law and order for all citizens in his council area.
While denying having knowledge about the transfer of one of the candidates in the election and two others to Atiba local government, Ojo also accused the State Chairman of NUT of using his influence to disrupt the relationship among members of the union in the local government by polarising the union in his local government with the aim of turning the teachers against the government for personal interest.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils.
The strike, which takes effect from Monday, June 1, 2026, is expected to ground academic activities across public schools in the state.
The union said the action became imperative following what it described as growing insecurity in schools and the prolonged captivity of abducted teachers and pupils whose whereabouts remain unknown.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Oyo State Wing of the NUT, Hassan Fatai, and the Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union expressed concerns over the psychological impact of the incidents on teachers, learners and parents.
According to the union, the lingering abduction cases have created fear and anxiety among teachers, weakened confidence in the safety of schools and discouraged many parents from sending their children to school.
The statement read in part, “The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, hereby directs all public primary and secondary school teachers across the state to commence an indefinite strike action effective from Monday, June 1, 2026, pending urgent and decisive action by relevant authorities on the abduction of teachers and pupils.”
The union explained that the industrial action was aimed at compelling the government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.
It urged teachers across the state to comply fully with the directive, remain peaceful and law-abiding, and prioritise their safety while staying away from classrooms during the strike.
The NUT also expressed solidarity with the abducted victims and their families, assuring that it would continue to engage relevant authorities until the victims were safely rescued.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, safety and security of teachers and pupils, stressing that the protection of school communities remained non-negotiable.
No fewer than 2,243,816 candidates on Thursday commenced the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board across accredited Computer-Based Test centres nationwide.
The figure represents a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million candidates recorded in 2025.
The examination, which began on April 16, is being conducted in about 1,000 CBT centres nationwide, with candidates scheduled in four daily sessions to reduce congestion and improve verification processes.
The board said it had deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems to safeguard the integrity of the exercise, noting that candidates whose biometric details could not be authenticated would be rescheduled.
Candidates were advised to print their examination slips from the JAMB portal to confirm their schedules and arrive at least one hour before their examination time.
Under the revised timetable, first-session candidates are expected at 7:00 a.m., followed by 9:00 a.m. for the second session, 11:00 a.m. for the third session, and 2:00 p.m. for the final session.
JAMB disclosed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with 381,814, followed by Ogun with 137,156 and Oyo with 122,662. Kaduna recorded 103,498 candidates, while the Federal Capital Territory had 102,961.
Other states include Rivers with 105,584 candidates and Kano with 83,167, while Borno and Zamfara recorded the lowest figures with 13,483 and 14,861 candidates respectively.
Outside Nigeria, participation remained low, with Côte d’Ivoire recording 32 candidates, followed by Equatorial Guinea with 16, Burkina Faso with 14, and the United Kingdom with 12 candidates.
As part of efforts to enhance efficiency, the board increased the number of CBT centres but delisted 23 centres across several states, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, over technical deficiencies observed during the mock examination.
The board said the action was necessary to maintain operational standards and ensure the credibility of the examination process.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force dismissed reports of insecurity at some centres, describing such claims as unfounded.
The police said it had deployed additional personnel, including patrol teams, perimeter surveillance units and rapid response squads, to ensure the safety of candidates nationwide.
The force added that it was collaborating with other security agencies to monitor the exercise and respond swiftly to any threats.
It assured parents and candidates of adequate security, urging candidates to comply with examination guidelines, arrive early and report suspicious activities.
The police also advised the public to disregard unverified information on social media and rely on official communication channels.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to transparency, warning candidates against accepting admissions outside its Central Admissions Processing System.
It stressed that any admission conducted outside CAPS would be considered illegal and would not be recognised.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test centres nationwide following technical deficiencies recorded during the 2026 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The Board disclosed this in a bulletin issued on Friday and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, as preparations intensify for the 2026 UTME scheduled to hold across the country from April 16 to April 25.
According to JAMB, the mock examination was designed to assess operational readiness and identify centres that failed to meet the required technical standards.
“Following the conduct of the 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Board has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test centres for technical deficiencies,” the statement read.
The Board added that several centres with minor issues had been placed on notice, warning that continued non-compliance could lead to further sanctions. It also stated that one centre would no longer be used for any of its examinations.
JAMB disclosed that a total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, with Lagos recording 321,814 candidates, Kaduna 303,498, the Federal Capital Territory 302,963, and Ogun 137,156.
To improve accessibility and logistics, the Board said it increased the number of approved examination centres to 1,000 nationwide, up from fewer than 800 in 2025.
However, an internal review conducted after the mock exercise revealed that some centres failed to meet operational and technical benchmarks, prompting their removal from the approved list.
The delisting followed reports of widespread technical glitches during the mock examination, including network failures, system malfunctions and delayed commencement of tests in several locations. Some candidates and parents also complained about hours-long waiting periods at affected centres.
The affected centres are located in Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Plateau states.
Among the delisted centres are Micben Seat of Wisdom Academy, Ukwa West, Abia; Bishop Crowther Seminary CBT Centre, Awka, and The Oracle Lens, Nnokwa, Anambra; Derby’s Young ICT Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa; Avid ICT Solutions CBT Centre, Asaba, Delta; and Daniet Global Resources CBT Centre, Benin City, Edo.
Others include De-Lite CBT Centre, Maitama, Abuja; Florin High School CBT Centre, Ejigbo; Folbob CBT Centre, Lakowe; Great Kezino College CBT Centre, Ikorodu; Obans CBT Centre, Ikorodu; and Teesas Learning and CBT Centre, Lekki, all in Lagos.
Also affected are Braingate Model Schools CBT Centre, Arepo, and Greenhills Academy CBT Centre, Itele, Ogun State; Oduduwa University CBT Centre, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Lasting Glory Schools CBT Centre, Ibadan; Nesam International School CBT Centre, Ibadan; SAF Polytechnic CBT Centre, Iseyin, Oyo State; and Rabjib Computer Academy, Jos, Plateau State.
JAMB stated that the decision formed part of efforts to safeguard the integrity of its examination process and ensure that only centres that meet its operational requirements are used for the main UTME.
The Board assured candidates that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure a smooth conduct of the examination nationwide.
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