‘It is From the People’: 30-Year-Old Politician with Dwarfism Cleared for House of Reps Primary in Kaduna (+Video)

Mahmud Sadis Buba, a 30-year-old politician living with dwarfism, has been cleared by the All Progressives Congress screening committee to contest the party’s primary election for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives. The clearance was confirmed following a screening exercise that took place in Kaduna State, with a video of the session going viral on social media over the weekend .

In the widely circulated video, Buba appeared before the screening panel dressed in traditional attire, responding calmly to questions about his age, educational background and motivation for contesting. His youthful appearance led many online commentators to express surprise that he had reached the constitutional minimum age of 30 required for House of Representatives membership .

During the screening, Buba disclosed that he is the first child in a family of nine children and holds a Senior Secondary School Certificate obtained from Government Secondary School, Auta, in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He also noted that he serves as Chairman of the ‘Tinubu–Uba Sani Agenda ’27’ support group .

Speaking to the panel, Buba made it clear that his ambition was not self-driven but arose from encouragement by members of his constituency who wanted him to represent them at the National Assembly.

“Help to pass the screening, having passed the requirements, because people called me to serve them, and I will serve. I am not doing this for myself,” Buba told the screening officials when asked how the party could assist him .

When questioned about why he was seeking to unseat the current occupant of the seat, Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, Buba replied simply, “It is not from me. It is from the people” .

Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, who won the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party, later defected to the APC and is also seeking re-election on the platform of the ruling party. The primary election is expected to be contested between Buba and Abdullahi .

Buba, who is popularly known as Abin Al-Ajabin Zazzau, was born on August 2, 1995 in Zaria. Before venturing fully into politics, he worked as a driver, a background that has shaped much of his public image and political messaging centred on equal opportunity and grassroots inclusion. He remains unmarried and lives with his parents in Samaru, a community hosting Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria .

The aspirant has been pictured with several prominent political figures including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai and Seyi Tinubu .

His emergence has generated widespread online reactions, with many Nigerians praising his confidence and composure during the screening exercise, while others have raised questions about the adequacy of his educational qualifications or the tone of questions asked by the panel .

Supporters describe Buba as a grassroots mobiliser and a symbol of resilience and inclusion, noting that his candidacy reflects growing political participation by young persons and persons with disabilities in Nigeria. He is seeking to challenge the incumbent lawmaker for the APC ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections .

His personal assistant, Alhassan Sani, said his principal remains deeply connected to the Sabon Gari people, adding that “My principal empowers the people especially the less privileged. He is still staying with his parents in Samaru” .

The APC primary election will determine which candidate flies the party’s flag for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 National Assembly elections.