A member of the House of Representatives representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Alex Ikwechegh, has declared firm support for real-time electronic transmission and collation of election results from polling units across Nigeria.
Ikwechegh described the proposed reform as critical to sanitising the country’s electoral process, arguing that technology remains the most reliable safeguard against manipulation.
“I am for electronic transmission, real-time collation. This is 2026. We are no longer in 1945. We should embrace growth and progress,” he stated.
The lawmaker acknowledged that public policy debates often attract divergent views but insisted that modernising the electoral system is necessary to ensure that votes genuinely count.
According to him, reliance on manual collation creates loopholes that could undermine democratic gains.
He dismissed concerns about poor network coverage in certain areas, noting that innovative solutions could address such challenges without jeopardising the integrity of national elections.
“Let us not put the entire country’s electoral system under jeopardy because of a few pockets of constituencies said not to have service,” he added.
Ikwechegh further disclosed that the House of Representatives would harmonise its position with the Senate after thorough scrutiny of the amendment bill.
He urged political stakeholders to prioritise national interest above partisan advantage, stressing that reforms should serve future generations rather than short-term political calculations.
Speaking on the 2027 general elections, the Aba lawmaker said his political future would depend on the wishes of his constituents.
“If my people in Aba say they want me to continue providing quality representation and dividends of democracy, why not? I am very much willing to offer my services as the chief servant of the people of Aba,” he said.
Ikwechegh also paid tribute to former Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), who recently marked his 70th birthday, describing him as a patriotic Nigerian whose service brought pride to Abia State, the South-East and the nation at large.