Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
It has been alleged that a 16‑year‑old boy claiming to be 30 years old and contesting for the House of Representatives has been sued for age falsification and SSCE forgery. As of last year, the boy was a junior secondary school student at ABU Demonstration School before dropping out. But he presented SSCE certificates to the APC screening committee, according to a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on May 14, 2026.
Mohammed Sadis Mahmud Buba, also known as Abin Al‑Ajabin Zazzau, became a national sensation after a video of his APC screening for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat went viral. The 30‑year‑old aspirant, who is visibly shorter than average and has a youthful baby face, appeared before screening officials in traditional attire. Many Nigerians online expressed shock that he had reached the constitutional minimum age of 30 required to run for the House of Representatives. Buba calmly responded to questions about his age, telling the committee, “It is not about me; it is my people who called me to serve.” He also claimed that Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani was aware of his intention to contest.
However, a lawsuit filed by a group of concerned constituents alleges that Buba is not 30 years old but rather a minor who was enrolled as a junior secondary school student at ABU Demonstration School in Zaria until he recently dropped out. The plaintiffs claim that the aspirant forged his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) result to meet the educational requirement for the House of Representatives. They have asked the court to disqualify him from the race and to refer the case to the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for criminal investigation.
The lawsuit adds a new layer of controversy to an already extraordinary political career. Buba has positioned himself as a grassroots politician, chairman of the “Tinubu–Uba Sani Agenda ’27” support group, and a close associate of President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and former Kaduna governor Nasir El‑Rufai. He has a National Examination Council (NECO) certificate, which he has presented to the APC screening committee. However, the plaintiffs allege that the certificate is fraudulent, arguing that a person who was still in junior secondary school last year could not have legitimately obtained an SSCE certificate.
Buba‘s supporters have dismissed the lawsuit as a politically motivated attack by opponents who are threatened by his growing popularity. They point to his composure during the screening and his stated desire to serve his people as evidence of his sincerity. The aspirant himself has not publicly commented on the allegations. The APC screening committee had already cleared Buba to contest the primary election against the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency.
The case is now pending before the Federal High Court in Kaduna. If the court rules against Buba, he could be disqualified from the race and face criminal prosecution for forgery. Legal experts note that age falsification and certificate forgery are serious offences under Nigerian law, carrying potential prison sentences upon conviction. The outcome of the case could have far‑reaching implications for the 2027 election cycle, as political opponents are likely to use the precedent to challenge the credentials of other candidates.
For now, the shortest man in the race is also the most embattled. The plaintiffs who once laughed at his height are now suing him in court. And the certificates that were supposed to open doors have become the very evidence that may close them. The Federal High Court will determine whether Sadis Buba is a young man of integrity or a fraudster who bet on a lie to climb Nigeria’s political ladder.
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