The Anambra State Government has come under intense criticism following its continued silence over the controversy surrounding Chinedu Okeke, the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) top scorer, who is currently under public attack by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Chinedu, a brilliant student who scored an impressive 375 in this year’s UTME and hails from Anambra State, has been accused by JAMB of allegedly manipulating his identity and state of origin to gain admission advantages—a claim that remains unproven and widely viewed as defamatory.
Despite the widespread attention and national outrage sparked by the development, Governor Charles Soludo and the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, have yet to issue any statement in Chinedu’s defense.
The silence has provoked a backlash on social media and across educational circles, with many Nigerians accusing the Soludo-led government of abandoning a gifted indigene during a critical moment.
Among the first public figures to speak out was tech entrepreneur and education advocate, Alex Onyia, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the government’s inaction. “I thought Anambra State have a governor and a commissioner for education. Why are they silent on Chinedu’s case?” Onyia queried in a now-viral tweet.
Other users echoed similar sentiments, with some describing the silence as “cowardly,” “politically motivated,” and “a betrayal of the state’s brightest minds.”
Don Zaga (@CollinsZagaa) wrote, “Sometimes I doubt if Soludo is actually intellectual. He has never done any meaningful thing in education. Anambra has only one state university, and he has never visited it. Peter Obi, a trader, even opened a state teaching hospital.”
Another user, @Ugo_eze_, questioned the governor’s priorities, saying: “They’re more interested in labelling 99% of kidnappings done in Anambra by Igbos, so they don’t have time for trivial issues like this.”
Others were even more scathing. CryptoPatra (@ChuzzyTech) said, “The fact that the said governor is a professor is disappointing, to say the least,” while Sir Mmadubuchi (@luwiizy) mocked Soludo, saying, “He is waiting for Peter Obi’s tweet before making a statement…”
Desmond (@deckdesmond) added, “Their silence is disappointing and inexcusable. This is not the time for cowardice or political calculation; someone’s future is at stake.”
Meanwhile, MOBstick (@skroolHead) suggested political maneuvering is at play: “Soludo is doing everything to have the evil establishment on his side for reelection. It’s wrong timing for him to challenge.”
JAMB continues to stand by its allegations, claiming Chinedu altered his state of origin to benefit from admission quotas. The board has even threatened to escalate the matter to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to support these claims.
Neither the University of Nigeria, Nsukka—where Chinedu is reportedly a 400-level medical student—nor the Anambra State Government has publicly addressed the issue, further fueling speculation and disappointment.
With mounting pressure and a growing chorus of voices demanding action, all eyes remain on Governor Soludo and his administration to either break their silence or risk alienating the very citizens they are meant to serve.