From Driver to Political Spotlight: The Inspiring Rise and Sudden Withdrawal of Mahmud Sadis Buba.

Mahmud Sadis Buba, the young APC aspirant from Kaduna State, recently captured national attention with his bold bid to represent Sabon Gari constituency in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2027 elections.

Hailing from Zaria’s Sabon Gari area, Buba first drew wider notice after successfully passing the APC screening process. His story stands out because of his humble beginnings he openly shared that he once worked as a driver before venturing into politics. In his own words on Facebook, “From my beginning as a driver to this moment, my journey has been built on hard work, resilience, and the belief that every individual can rise to serve.”

What makes Buba particularly remarkable is that he lives with dwarfism, a condition he inherited from his paternal grandfather. Standing at less than four feet tall, he has spoken candidly about the discrimination, insults, and humiliation he has faced because of his physical appearance. Despite these challenges, his emergence has turned him into a powerful symbol of hope and inclusion for many young people and persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s political space.

Though he only recently gained national fame, Buba has been active in Kaduna politics for years. He chairs the Tinubu Uba Sani Agenda ’27 support group and has been involved in grassroots mobilization, campaigns, and rallies supporting President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani. He has also been pictured with prominent leaders including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and ex-Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

However, his ambition was quickly overshadowed by a major controversy surrounding his age. During a media interview, Buba claimed he was born in 1995, but documents that surfaced online reportedly indicated a 2010 birth year. This sparked intense debate about his eligibility, as the Nigerian Constitution requires House of Representatives candidates to be at least 25 years old, and raised questions about party vetting processes.

After days of public scrutiny and consultations with his family, political allies, and party stakeholders, Buba announced his withdrawal from the race. He described the decision as “a sacrifice for the greater good of the party” rather than a sign of weakness.

Even though his journey in the 2027 race was short-lived, Mahmud Sadis Buba’s story has sparked important national conversations about youth participation, disability inclusion, and representation in Nigerian politics.