From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Lawmaker representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, Chinedu Ogah has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the West African Examination Council, WAEC, to release the results of 192,089 candidates it withheld this year over alleged malpractice.
The lawmaker said if the examination body refuses to release the results, he would institute legal action against it.
Announcing the results of this year’s examination on Monday, the Head of WAEC National Office, Dr Amos Dangut said192,089 candidates, representing 9.75 percent of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, were withheld in connection with various cases of examination malpractice.
Reacting to the report, Ogah, who expressed displeasure over the seizure of the results in a statement signed by his aide, Charles Iteshi, urged the examination body to immediately release the results or face legal action.
He said withholding the results would frustrate the affected candidates and prevent them from getting admission.
The lawmaker stated this while reacting to the development.
“It is very unfortunate that after candidates wrote their WAEC and JAMB to enter university, WAEC will withhold their results on flimsy excuses and prevent them from getting admission.
“WAEC has supervisors, examiners and external examiners who monitor and supervise schools during examinations and no complaints, no evidence of malpractice and when it is time to release the results of candidates, we will start hearing withholding of results over malpractice to frustrate the young people of this country.
“This is unacceptable and a pure act of sabotage. They don’t do this in Ghana, they don’t do it in other West African countries.
“WAEC should release the results of the candidates they are withholding within seven days. Failure to do this, I will take them to court for abuse of office.
“If there is evidence of malpractice when their invigilators, supervisors and external examiners are supervising the examination, they should cancel it on the spot and not when candidates are already processing their admission into the university, they will withhold their results to frustrate them and push them into vices,” he said.
