A political controversy has erupted in Nigeria after a young man popularly known as the “Wonder of Zaria” was allegedly discovered to be underage after almost securing a chance to contest for a seat in the National Assembly.
The young aspirant, identified as Mahmud Sadis Buba, became an internet sensation after a viral screening video showed him appearing before members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while seeking a ticket to represent Sabon Gari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Buba, who reportedly lives with dwarfism, told party officials during the screening that he was 30 years old and qualified to contest for office.
In the now-viral clip, he explained that he possessed a senior secondary school certificate and had previously worked as a driver before entering politics.
His confidence and emotional speech quickly won attention online, with many Nigerians praising him as a symbol of inclusion and representation in politics.
One of his statements during the APC screening became widely shared on social media after he reportedly said:
“People called me to serve them, and I will serve.”
However, the inspiring political story soon turned controversial after documents allegedly linked to Buba surfaced online.
According to the reports, leaked records including a birth certificate, school documents, passport details and National Identification Number information suggested that he may have actually been born in 2010.
If true, this would reportedly make him about 16 years old — far below the constitutional age requirement for members of Nigeria’s National Assembly.
The controversy intensified after a former teacher allegedly came forward claiming to have taught Buba during his junior secondary school years, insisting that the young aspirant was still a teenager.
As public pressure mounted, the APC reportedly moved to disqualify him over allegations of age falsification.
The young politician later announced his withdrawal from the race in a letter addressed to party officials, stating that the decision followed consultations and reconciliation efforts within the party.
The scandal has since triggered nationwide debate, with many Nigerians questioning how an allegedly underage candidate was able to pass through the party’s screening process without immediate detection.
Some social media users described the incident as embarrassing for the political system, while others argued that the controversy exposed serious loopholes in candidate verification procedures.
Despite the backlash, many Nigerians continue to sympathize with the teenager, saying the situation reflects deeper issues within the country’s political environment.