Sadisu Mahmud, the 15-year-old with a diminutive stature who declared interest in contesting the House of Representatives seat for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, has been caught in a web of deceit after lying to Nigerians that he was 30 years old.

Mr Mahmud, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), gained significant attention in May 2026 when he obtained the APC expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2027 House of Representatives election.

His diminutive stature and youthful appearance sparked a massive online debate after he appeared before the APC screening committee in Abuja earlier in May.

In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Mr Mahmud claimed that he was 30 years old and had met the 25-year constitutional age requirement to contest the House of Representatives election.

Also, during the process of obtaining his APC membership card, he claimed to be 30-years-old and asserted 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 fully venturing into politics.

Following his declaration to contest in the 2027 elections, Mr Mahmud received commendations from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and former lawmaker, Senator 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.

Mr Mahmud had been seen alongside prominent political figures, including President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Mr Akpabio, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Bello El-Rufai and Seyi Tinubu.

Following his declaration to contest the 2027 general elections, his passport began circulating online, prompting an investigation by this newspaper. 

The Peoples Gazette found that Mr Mahmud presented a forged age certificate declaration when submitting his form to the APC screening committee.

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

The Gazette also obtained a copy of Mr Mahmud’s birth certificate, which shows 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 reveals 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 Mr Mahmud is allowed to contest the House of Representatives election at age 15.