Fresh controversy has emerged over the eligibility of Sadisu Mahmud Buba, popularly known as Al’ajabi, an aspirant for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in Kaduna State, following allegations that official documents indicate he was born in 2010.
Al’ajabi, a physically challenged aspirant, attracted public attention after appearing before the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee on Saturday, with his photographs alongside President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio circulating widely on social media.
The controversy followed claims that the aspirant, who recently told the BBC Hausa he was above 25 years old, may not meet the constitutional age requirement to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives.
Documents reportedly sighted by Newsmen, including a National Identification Number (NIN) slip and an international passport, allegedly indicate that Al’ajabi was born on August 27, 2010. If verified, he would turn 16 in August 2026, falling short of the constitutional minimum age of 25 required for House of Representatives candidates.
Section 65 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that candidates seeking election into the House of Representatives must be at least 25 years old, while those contesting for Senate, governorship and presidential positions must be at least 35 years old.
Meanwhile, a petition challenging Al’ajabi’s eligibility has been submitted to the APC House of Representatives Appeals Committee.
The petition, filed by law firm BLACK HALSBURYS L.P on behalf of Samaru Layin Tsamiya Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, alleged discrepancies in the aspirant’s age, identity records and educational qualifications.
Addressed to the committee chairman at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the petition argued that the allegations, if proven, could undermine the party’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the petitioners, Al’ajabi was allegedly born on August 27, 2010, at Hajiya Gambo Sawaba Government General Hospital in Zaria, with his birth certificate, NIN records and educational documents reportedly reflecting the same date of birth.
The petition further claimed that the aspirant gained admission into Demonstration Secondary School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2023 and sat for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination in 2025.
Despite these records, the petition alleged that Al’ajabi declared himself to be 30 years old in forms submitted to the APC screening committee.
The petitioners urged the committee to compel the aspirant to present original copies of his NIN slip, birth certificate, international passport and educational certificates for verification, while also seeking independent confirmation from relevant agencies, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), WAEC and NECO.
They further requested that the aspirant be disqualified from the APC primary election if any evidence of falsification or constitutional 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 stated.
