ABUJA – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has categorically refuted viral reports claiming that undergraduate students currently enrolled in universities are barred from registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry (DE).
In a statement on Wednesday, JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, dismissed the claims as a “distortion of its guidelines” by individuals seeking attention on social media. He clarified that the Board’s 2026 advertisement only requires candidates to disclose their current matriculation status during registration, which is a standard procedure to prevent multiple admissions.
“It is not an offence for a candidate already enrolled in an institution to register for the UTME or Direct Entry examinations. However, failure to disclose an existing matriculation status constitutes an offence under the law governing admissions,” Benjamin stated.
The mandatory disclosure rule is designed to curb the practice of “professional examination takers” who are already students and to ensure no candidate illegally holds two admissions concurrently. Once a candidate secures a new admission through JAMB, any previous admission automatically becomes invalid.
Dr. Benjamin warned that candidates who fail to make this disclosure risk forfeiting both admissions if detected by the Board’s systems. He urged the public to rely solely on official JAMB guidelines and avoid misleading interpretations circulated online.
Read more on education: For Us By Us Movement Reaffirms Free JAMB Registration Commitment
—
Disclaimer: This report is based on an official clarification from JAMB. Candidates are advised to consult the Board’s official website and publications for accurate registration guidelines.
© 2026 CDA News Nigeria. All rights reserved.
