Small Stature, Big Ambition: The Rise Of Sadis Buba As Questions Over His Age Emerge

Recently, a 30-year-old popular Zaria politician, Mahmud Sadis Buba, gained widespread attention and caused a stir after his screening to contest the Sabon Gari Federal constituency seat in Kaduna state under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Buba hopes to defeat the incumbent, Sadiq Ango, to secure the ruling party’s ticket and faces other opposition candidates in the 2027 polls. AZA MSUE writes.

In Nigeria’s rough-and-tumble political arena, where age, influence, and wealth often shape public perception, the emergence of Mahmud Sadis Buba has unsettled familiar assumptions.

At first glance, many who encountered the now-viral APC screening video from Kaduna State mistook him for a teenager.  His youthful face, small stature, and calm manner immediately sparked disbelief across social media.

Yet, beneath the internet jokes and memes lies a determined political actor seeking to represent Sabon Gari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Buba’s story is not merely about appearance. It is a narrative shaped by resilience, ambition, and an unusual ability to command attention in a crowded political landscape.

Reports indicate that the 30-year-old politician, popularly called “Abin Al-Ajabin Zazzau,” began his journey from humble beginnings.

He was once in the business of buying and selling before gradually becoming active in grassroots political mobilisation across Zaria and Kaduna State.

Born on 2 August 1995, Buba is reportedly the first of nine children. He attended Government Secondary School, Auta, in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where he obtained his NECO certificate.

Contrary to online speculation, there is no verified evidence linking him to Demonstration Secondary School, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru Zaria. What has perhaps made Buba more visible nationally is not just his political aspiration, but the symbolism attached to it.

Living with dwarfism, he has become an unlikely face of inclusion in Nigerian politics.

In a country where persons living with disabilities often struggle for representation, his appearance before the APC screening panel was interpreted by many observers as a bold challenge to long-standing stereotypes.

During the screening exercise, Buba repeatedly insisted that his ambition was inspired by calls from constituents rather than personal ambition, “I have nine siblings, and I am the first son. I want to contest the election because people call me to serve them. I did not call myself; people call me to serve them. In the APC, we are only two contestants. My opponent is a current member of the House of Representatives.  It is not from me; it is my people who call. It is from the people,” he declared when asked why he wanted to contest against an incumbent lawmaker.

That response, delivered with composure, quickly circulated online and transformed him into a talking point far beyond Kaduna politics.

Supporters described him as a grassroots mobiliser with strong ties among young political supporters in Zaria.

He has reportedly served as chairman of the “Tinubu–Uba Sani Agenda 2027” support group and has been photographed with influential Nigerian politicians, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Still, public fascination with Buba reveals deeper truths about Nigeria’s political culture.

Much of the reaction to him has focused less on his ideas and more on his appearance. For some, he represents inspiration and courage.

For others, he has become an object of curiosity. Yet his candidacy has forced conversations around youth participation, disability inclusion, and whether Nigerian politics is truly open to unconventional entrants.

Whether Mahmud Sadis Buba ultimately secures the APC ticket or wins elective office remains uncertain.

But in just a few days, he has achieved something many politicians struggle to attain after years in public life: national visibility.

In a political season already dominated by familiar names and recycled power structures, Buba has emerged as an unexpected symbol of persistence — proof that sometimes, the most unconventional figures generate the loudest conversations.

However, in an interview with BBC Pigin and Radio France International (RFI) Hausa and monitored in Kaduna, Sadis Buba, lamented that he has been insulted, humiliated and deprived because of the way Allah created him, adding that his parents were not left out as they have been insulted too.

Buba further disclosed that nothing people have not done to him, “ I have been insulted, humiliated and deprived because of the way Allah created me. There is nothing people have not done to me. I have been insulted, humiliated, disgraced, and even my parents have been insulted,” he said.

He disclosed his big challenge in life, “My big challenge in life is my nature, but I am determined to win this election because my people call me to come and contest, and if they don’t vote for me, I will go”

How Old Is Buba?

There are rumours that Buba is just 15 years old. A passport bearing his name and a passport photograph showed that he was allegedly born on 27 August 2010.  The passport, issued in Sokoto on 16 April 2024, will expire on 15 April 2029. The passport gave his full name as Sadisu Mahmud Buba, indicating that the aspirant was born in Zaria. Calls made to Buba’s telephone number were not answered to confirm the originality or otherwise of the document. He also did not respond to a text message sent to the same telephone number.

But Buba said he had endured public humiliation and insults as he remained focused and determined to represent his people, who he said called on him to serve Sabon Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna state.

When asked why he did not run for the State House of Assembly seat, Buba said that, as a state legislator, he would not be able to effectively provide or attract the development support his people needed.

Reactions Trail Sadis Buba’s Tall Ambition

Buba’s personal assistant and secretary, Alhassan Sani speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend described his principal as a politician and philanthropist who has been assisting the people, “Buba attended Government Secondary School, Auta in Ikara local government area of Kaduna state. His parents gave him full support”

Sani revealed that Buba always distributed food items to residents of his community, especially during Ramadan, “Sadis Buba is not just a politician, he is also a philanthropist. He has distributed food items to hundreds of people during every Ramadan. He is someone who quietly does good to people. Buba always stays in Sabon Gari with his people. He is a complete grassroots man and politician. He knows the problems and challenges of his people”

A Kaduna-based politician, Saidu Mohammed, said he spent many years in Sabon Gari and praised Saidu Buba for his courage, “Saidu Buba to me should be commended for coming out to contest the election. Buba is a courageous young man who understands the suffering of his people, and that is how young men or the youth should behave, rather than engaging in social vices and other illegal activities”

A retired police officer, Shehu Adamu, advised Sadis Buba to outline his legislative agenda to the people of Sabon Gari, “Saying my people call me to represent them is not enough. He should state in clear terms what he intends do differently for the constituents if voted. Buba has taken a good step”, he said.