Mahmud Sadisu Buba, a 30-year-old former driver from Kaduna State, is challenging assumptions about who can represent Nigerians in the National Assembly. If elected in 2027, he would become the shortest person ever to serve in Nigeria’s legislative chambers.
Early life and background
Born on 2 August 1995 in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State, Buba is the first child in a family of nine siblings. He is known locally as Abin Al-Ajabin Zazzau, which translates to “The Wonder of Zaria” in Hausa.
Buba lives with dwarfism, a genetic condition he inherited from his grandfather on his father’s side. In a recent interview with BBC Pidgin, he explained that among 43 family members, only he and his grandfather share the condition.
“My condition came from my grandfather, my father’s father. It has been in the family from the beginning, but among us, maybe 43 people, the person who looks like me is my grandfather,” he said.
Education
Buba attended school in Kaduna State and holds a NECO Senior Secondary School Certificate. His formal education has not extended to university level, a reality he has embraced rather than hidden in his political messaging.
Career before politics
Before entering politics, Buba worked as a driver in Kaduna State. This experience forms the cornerstone of his political identity and campaign narrative. He has consistently referenced his working-class background as evidence that political representation should not be reserved for the elite.
“From my beginnings as a driver to this moment, my journey has been built on hard work, resilience, and the belief that every individual, no matter their background, can rise to serve,” he said when announcing his candidacy.
Political journey
Buba serves as chairman of the “Tinubu–Uba Sani Agenda ’27” support group, a grassroots political organisation aligned with Nigeria’s current federal and Kaduna State leadership. This role has provided him access to senior political figures and positioned him within the All Progressives Congress structure.
Over the past year, he has been photographed with President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai and federal lawmaker Bello El-Rufai.
In April 2026, Buba obtained the APC nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the House of Representatives seat representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections. He presented the forms to Senate President Akpabio as part of his consultative efforts.
The viral screening
Buba gained national attention in May 2026 when a video from his APC screening session went viral across Nigerian social media. In the footage, he appeared before party officials in traditional attire, calmly answering questions about his age, background and political ambitions.
Many Nigerians online expressed surprise at his youthful appearance and small stature, with some doubting he had reached the constitutional minimum age of 30 required to contest for the House of Representatives.
His response during the screening became widely quoted:
“It is not from me. It is from the people. People called me to serve them, and I will serve.”
The APC screening committee cleared Buba to contest for the party’s ticket, making him an official contender for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat.
Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani described Buba’s ambition as “a challenge to the youth” in a post on X.
Living with dwarfism in politics
Buba has spoken openly about the challenges of living with dwarfism in Nigeria.
“The most challenging thing in life is my condition,” he told BBC Pidgin. “Some people discourage me while others support me.”
Rather than allowing his physical condition to define or limit his ambitions, he has positioned it as part of a broader conversation about inclusivity in Nigerian politics.
If successful in the 2027 elections, Buba would not only become the youngest lawmaker in his cohort but also the shortest person ever elected to Nigeria’s National Assembly, breaking new ground for representation of people with disabilities in Nigerian politics.
Political message
Buba’s campaign centres on inclusive representation and accountability to ordinary constituents.
“I am stepping forward with a clear vision: to represent the people of Sabon Gari with honesty, dedication and true leadership,” he said in his declaration. “Your voice will be heard, your concerns will matter, and together we will work towards real development and opportunities for all.”
His candidacy challenges the typical profile of Nigerian federal lawmakers, who are often university-educated, come from political or business families, and have limited exposure to the daily realities of working-class Nigerians.
Current status
As of May 2026, Buba has successfully passed the APC screening process and awaits the party primary elections. His supporters have intensified mobilisation efforts, describing his clearance as a breakthrough in his political journey.
Whether Buba wins the APC primary and goes on to secure the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in 2027 remains uncertain. But his emergence has already sparked genuine conversations about age, merit, inclusiveness and what effective representation looks like in Nigeria’s political system.
For a man once behind the wheel of a vehicle navigating Kaduna’s streets, Buba now finds himself navigating Nigeria’s complex political terrain, determined to prove that leadership potential exists in the most unlikely places.
