Sadisu Mahmud Buba, popularly known as Al’ajabi, who appeared before the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in Kaduna State, is now the subject of a petition questioning his eligibility to contest the election.
Official documents obtained by Media Talk Africa, including a National Identification Number slip and an international passport, show that Al’ajabi was born on 27 August 2010, which would make him 15 years old at the time of the screening. The constitutional minimum age for a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives is 25, as stipulated in Section 65 of the 1999 Constitution.
The controversy erupted after the aspirant, who is physically challenged, attracted attention for appearing alongside senior politicians such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice‑President Kashim Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio in photographs that circulated on social media. In a recent BBC interview Al’ajabi claimed to be over 25, aligning with the age requirement for the lower chamber.
A law firm, Black Halsburys L.P, filed a petition on behalf of the Samaru Layin Tsamiya Multi‑Purpose Cooperative Society Limited with the APC House of Representatives Appeals Committee. The petition alleges that Al’ajabi’s birth certificate, NID records and educational qualifications all bear the 2010 birth date, yet he declared himself to be 30 years old in the expression of interest and nomination forms submitted to the party. It also notes that the aspirant was admitted to Demonstration Secondary School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2023 and sat for the NECO examination in 2025 – timelines that would be inconsistent with a 2010 birth year.
The petitioners request that the committee direct Al’ajabi to produce original copies of his birth certificate, NID slip, passport and academic certificates for verification. They further ask for independent checks with the National Identity Management Commission, the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council. Should any material falsification be established, the petition urges the committee to disqualify the aspirant from the APC primary election.
In its submission, the law firm emphasized that the action is “without malice, political vendetta or personal hostility” and is intended to safeguard the constitutional and procedural integrity of the party’s nomination process.
If the documents are authenticated, Al’ajabi would fall short of the constitutional age threshold, raising the possibility of his disqualification and prompting the APC to review its vetting mechanisms ahead of upcoming elections. The appeals committee is expected to consider the petition and issue a ruling on the aspirant’s eligibility in the coming weeks.
