Why we withdraw “Man of the Year” award on Gov Otti – HURIWA

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), said it has withdrawn its “Man of the Year” award earlier conferred on the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, after it discovered errors in the statistical tabulation process that informed the initial decision.

In a statement on behalf of the organisation, yesterday, HURIWA’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko explained that following an internal review triggered by due diligence procedures, it uncovered discrepancies in the data analysis and scoring conducted by an external accessory engaged to collate and tabulate inputs used in arriving at the award outcome.

The rights advocacy group stated that the integrity, credibility and transparency of its processes remained paramount, stressing that it would be inconsistent with its core values to allow an award decision tainted by technical or statistical errors to stand.

According to HURIWA, the withdrawal of the announcement should not be interpreted as a verdict on the performance, character or public service record of Governor Otti, but rather as a corrective institutional measure aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the organisation and the sanctity of its annual honours.

HURIWA further disclosed that the affected statistical exercise had been nullified and that a fresh, more rigorous evaluation process would be conducted to ensure accuracy, fairness and compliance with established benchmarks.

The organisation assured the public that it would conclude the review and announce the eventual winner of the award on January 1, 2026, after the completion of a transparent and verifiable reassessment process.

It reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, ethical standards and institutional self-correction, noting that its willingness to publicly withdraw the announcement underscored its resolve to uphold the principles it advocates in the broader Nigerian society.