Fifteen-year-old diminutive boy, Sadisu Buba Mahmud, exposed by the Peoples Gazette for falsely claiming to be 30 years old, has withdrawn from contesting the House of Representatives seat for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency in Kaduna State.

The 15-year-old lied to the public including leaders of the All Progressives Congress that he was 30 years old.

He desired to emerge the standard bearer of the APC in the 2027 National Assembly poll in Kaduna State. 

Mr Buba announced his withdrawal in a letter addressed to the Kaduna State chairman of the APC, Isaac Sankay, which he shared on his Facebook page on Saturday.

He wrote, “Please accept this letter as formal notification that I am withdrawing from the race for Sabon Gari Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, effective immediately.

“This was not an easy decision. But it was hastened by the reconciliation efforts initiated by stakeholders and leaders of our party. Consequently, after extensive consultations with my family, political associates, and stakeholders within our great party, I have decided that this decision is in the best interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I believe that uniting behind a single candidate is paramount to our victory in the general election and for the continued progress of our constituency and state.

“My withdrawal is not a sign of weakness, but a sacrifice for the greater good of the party. I assure you that I remain a faithful party member and am committed to working tirelessly to ensure the victory of the party’s consensus candidate and the party at large at the polls.”

Appreciating Governor Uba Sani for the opportunity to participate in the nomination process, he stressed absolute loyalty and dedication to the APC.

He also urged his supporters to remain calm, united, support the party’s decision and whoever emerges as its candidate for the position.

Mr Mahmud’s withdrawal came after an interview with the British Broadcating Corporation (BBC), where he claimed that he was 30 years old and met the constitutional age requirement of 25 to contest a seat in the lower legislative chamber. 

Also, during the process of obtaining his APC membership card, he reportedly claimed to be 30 years old and that he was married.

Mr Mahmud also said he was born on August 2, 1995, hails from Sabon Gari in Zaria, Kaduna State, and worked as a driver before venturing into politics.

His declaration to vie for a Reps seat in 2027 drew commendations from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and former Kaduna lawmaker Shehu Sani.

His campaign team also claimed that he is the chairman of the “Tinubu–Uba Sani Agenda ’27” support group and a grassroots mobiliser in Kaduna State. 

Mr Mahmud had also been seen among prominent political figures such as President Bola Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, his son, Bello and Mr Tinubu’s son, Seyi.

However, the Gazette investigation revealed  that Mr Mahmud presented a forged age certificate declaration when he submitted his form to the APC screening committee.

This newspaper also obtained details of his National Identification Number (NIN) 7359 567 1139 on the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMN) database, which confirms that he was born on August 27, 2010.

The Gazette also obtained a copy of Mr Mahmud’s birth certificate, which exposes that he was born in Sokoto State on August 27, 2010, contrary to his false claim that he was born in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State, on August 2, 1995.

Also, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) database indicate that Mr Mahmud, with the middle name ‘Buba,’ was born on August 27, 2010.

According to Section 65 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), an individual must attain the age of 25 years to be qualified to contest a House of Representatives seat.

Under the constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may be in violation of Nigerian law if Mahmud had fraudulently contested the House of Representatives election at 15.