The rise of “Abin Al-Ajabin Zazzau” (The Wonder of Zaria), as Mahmud Sadis Buba came to be known in Nigeria, began last month, after a video of his All Progressives Congress (APC) party screening for a seat in the House of Representatives went viral on social media. But what began as inspiration for a more inclusive political scene quickly turned into a nationwide scandal.
In his screening video, Buba, who hails from Sabon Gari in Zaria, said that he held a senior secondary school certificate and had previously worked as a driver. He attributed his diminutive stature and child-like appearance to a form of dwarfism, but claimed to be 30 years old.
“It is not about me, it is from the people. People called me to serve them, and I will serve,” Mahmud Sadis Buba told the members of his party, and that simple line became one of the most quoted political statements on Nigerian social media.
People couldn’t stop talking about The Wonder of Zaria and how he inspired change in Nigerian politics, but then everything came crashing down on the chances of him ever securing a seat in the country’s National Assembly. In his viral screening video, Buba claimed to have been born on August 2nd, 1995, making him over 30 years old, but documents linked to him and leaked online suggested that he was actually born in 2010.
To run for a seat in the Nigerian National Assembly, candidates must be at least 25 years old, but in the case of Abin Al-Ajabin Zazzau, that wasn’t the main issue. If he were born in 2010, that would make him a minor, under both Nigerian law and international child rights frameworks.
Photos of an international passport, NIN slip, birth certificate, and school records tied to Mahmud Sadis Buba all suggested that he was merely a teenager. To make matters worse, a former teacher also came forward claiming to have taught Buba when he was in junior secondary school, and confirming that he was 16.
Buba’s APC party initially defended him and claimed that he was the target of a smear campaign, but as evidence continued to pile up, they disqualified him over alleged age falsification. Buba announced his withdrawal in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the APC, claiming that it had become necessary following consultations with his party.
“Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am withdrawing from the race for Sabon Gari Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, effective immediately,” the letter read. “This was not an easy decision, but it was hastened by the reconciliation efforts initiated by stakeholders and leaders of our party.”
Now, many are wondering how a 15-year-old kid with dwarfism passed the APC’s screening protocol and became one of the rising stars of Nigerian politics. Was it just incompetence, or did someone knowingly orchestrate his candidacy? So far, these questions remain unanswered.
