Official documents belonging to Sadisu Mahmud Buba, popularly known as Al’ajabi, an aspirant for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in Kaduna State, indicate that he was born in 2010, contrary to claims and reports suggesting he is 30 years old.
The aspirant, who is physically challenged, drew public attention after appearing before the All Progressives Congress screening committee on Saturday.
Prior to the screening, photographs of Al’ajabi with prominent political figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, had circulated widely on social media.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Al’ajabi stated that he was above 25 years old, the constitutional minimum age required to contest for a seat in Nigeria’s House of Representatives.
However, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip and an international passport reportedly seen by our correspondent indicate that he was born on August 27, 2010, meaning he would turn 16 in August 2026.
If the documents are authentic, the date of birth would place him below the constitutional age requirement for membership of the House of Representatives.
Section 65 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that candidates seeking election into the House of Representatives must be at least 25 years old, while candidates for the Senate, governorship and presidency must be at least 35 years old.
Meanwhile, a petition has been submitted to the APC House of Representatives Appeals Committee challenging the aspirant’s eligibility over alleged discrepancies in his age, identity records and educational qualifications.
The petition, filed by the law firm BLACK HALSBURYS L.P on behalf of Samaru Layin Tsamiya Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, accused the aspirant of allegedly falsifying his age, NIN records and academic credentials.
Addressed to the chairman of the APC House of Representatives Appeals Committee at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the petition argued that the allegations, if established, could damage the party’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are a firm of solicitors to Samaru Layin Tsamiya Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, all members of the APC, Sabon Gari Federal Constituency, Kaduna State,” the petition partly read.
The petitioners alleged that Al’ajabi was born on August 27, 2010, at Hajiya Gambo Sawaba Government General Hospital in Zaria and was issued a birth certificate at birth.
They further claimed that his NIN records and educational documents reflected the same date of birth.
“The respondent has prior to now been issued with a National Identification Number bearing 27th August, 2010 as his date of birth,” the petition stated.
The petition also alleged that the aspirant gained admission into Demonstration Secondary School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2023 and sat for the National Examinations Council examination in 2025.
According to the petitioners, despite the records, the aspirant allegedly declared himself to be 30 years old in the expression of interest and nomination forms submitted to the APC screening committee.
The petition urged the committee to direct the aspirant to produce the original copies of his NIN slip, birth certificate, international passport and educational certificates for verification.
The petitioners also called for independent verification of his records with the National Identity Management Commission, the West African Examinations Council and NECO.
They further asked the committee to disqualify the aspirant from the APC primary election if any material falsification or non-compliance is established.
“This petition is filed without malice, political vendetta or personal hostility. It is submitted solely to protect the constitutional and procedural integrity of the party’s nomination process,” the petition added.
