“I Have a Court Order, My Child is a Genius!”: Chaos Hits CBT Centers as Parents Clash with JAMB Over Age Limit & Strict Waiver

LAGOS — The second week of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration has descended into a chaotic standoff, as a “Clash of Orders” leaves thousands of underage candidates stranded at Computer Based Test (CBT) centers.

Since registration opened on January 26, centers across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt have become battlegrounds. The conflict is no longer just about the age of the students; it is now a legal tussle between parents armed with a High Court Judgment and officials armed with a Ministerial Directive.

The confusion is driven by three colliding scenarios: the refusal to obey the “Delta Judgment,” the impossible “Genius Waiver,” and panic over the status of matriculated students.

Scenario 1: The Legal Standoff (Court Order vs. Appeal)

At the JKK CBT Centre in Ilupeju on Monday morning, the confusion was palpable. Parents were seen waving printed copies of the Delta State High Court ruling (delivered in Aikpokpo-Martins v. JAMB), which explicitly declared the 16-year age limit unconstitutional and discriminatory.

“The court said this policy is null and void!” shouted one parent, Mr. Bayo Adeyemi, whose 15-year-old daughter was rejected by the biometric system. “My daughter turns 16 in October, just one month after your deadline. You cannot stop her!”

However, JAMB officials on ground remained unmoved, citing a counter-directive from Abuja. “We are aware of the judgment, but the Board has filed an Appeal and a Stay of Execution,” a supervisor told the agitated crowd. “Until the Appeal Court speaks, the Minister’s order stands: 16 years by September 30, 2026, or no admission.”

This legal limbo has created a “software deadlock.” The JAMB portal is programmed to automatically reject any Date of Birth that falls after September 30, 2010, rendering the parents’ court papers useless against the computer screen.

Scenario 2: The “Genius Trap” (The 80% Hurdle)

For the few 15-year-olds who are allowed to register under the “Gifted/Underage” waiver, the reality has turned from hope to frustration. The conditions set by JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede are proving nearly impossible for many:

• The Hurdle: To qualify for the waiver, the candidate must not just pass; they must score an aggregate of 80% across the board. This means 320+ in UTME, 80% in Post-UTME, and 5 Distinctions (A1) in WAEC/NECO in one sitting.
• The Heartbreak: Parents are discovering that even if their child is brilliant, scoring 290 (a high score by any standard) leads to automatic disqualification because it misses the “Genius” threshold.
• Prof. Oloyede’s Stance: Speaking in Ilorin, the Registrar was blunt: “Many parents are on an ego trip. If you claim your 14-year-old is a genius, they must prove it with exceptional results. If they score 79%, they will wait.”

Scenario 3: The “Matriculated Student” Panic

Adding fuel to the fire is a fresh wave of confusion regarding students already in university. Rumors spread last week that JAMB had banned currently matriculated students from retaking the UTME to change courses or institutions. This led to panic at several centers, with students fearing they were trapped in their current courses.

JAMB Spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin was forced to issue an urgent clarification on Friday, January 30: “There is no ban. Matriculated students can register, but they must declare their current status. Hiding your current admission to get a new one is the crime.”

Despite this, reports confirm that some overzealous CBT operators are still turning back university students, demanding “clearance letters” that do not exist in the official guidelines.

What Happens Next?

With the registration deadline of February 28, 2026 fast approaching, the tension is reaching a boiling point.

• The Parents: Groups like the Coalition of Concerned Parents have petitioned Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, warning that thousands of brilliant children are about to lose an academic year due to a policy that a court has technically declared illegal.
• The Risk: As the mock exams approach, the “administrative knots” remain untied, leaving parents to gamble on their children’s ability to hit the “impossible” 80% mark.