The boyish-looking Mahmud Sadis Buba has withdrawn from the race for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives following reconciliatory moves by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.
Buba announced his decision in a letter addressed to the Kaduna State Chairman of the APC, saying the move followed extensive consultations with family members, political associates and party stakeholders.
Before stepping down from the race, the aspirant had appeared before the APC screening panel as part of the party’s internal process for aspirants seeking elective offices.
The screening exercise reportedly focused on issues bordering on eligibility, party membership, educational qualifications, documentation and integrity checks.
His clearance by the screening panel attracted public attention after reports identified him as a 30-year-old aspirant seeking election into the House of Representatives.
Buba, popularly known as Abin Al-Ajabin Zazzau, also drew widespread interest because he lives with dwarfism, with many supporters describing his ambition as a strong symbol of political inclusion for persons living with disabilities.
However, controversy later trailed his aspiration following allegations of age falsification linked to documents said to belong to him, including his National Identification Number slip and international passport, which allegedly carried conflicting dates of birth.
Screenshots of the documents subsequently surfaced online and triggered intense debate on social media, with critics demanding clarification and proper verification of the records.
But supporters of the aspirant dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, insisting they were calculated attempts to tarnish his image ahead of the party primaries, while no official indictment had been issued against him by the APC screening committee or any government agency as of the time of filing this report.
The aspirant explained that his withdrawal became necessary in the interest of party unity and the need to strengthen the APC ahead of the elections.
He said the reconciliation efforts initiated by leaders and stakeholders of the party played a major role in shaping his decision to step down from the contest.
According to him, rallying behind a consensus arrangement would enhance the chances of victory for the APC in the constituency and across Kaduna State.
“This was not an easy decision. But it was hastened by the reconciliation efforts initiated by stakeholders and leaders of our party,” he stated.
Buba added that his withdrawal should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness, but rather as a sacrifice aimed at preserving the cohesion and stability of the ruling party.
Despite his withdrawal from the contest, Buba expressed appreciation to Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani and the leadership of the APC for the opportunity given to him to participate in the nomination process.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the party and pledging to support whoever eventually emerges as the APC candidate for the constituency while urging his supporters to remain calm, united and committed to the success of the party in the forthcoming elections.
