The Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE) has called for an immediate criminal investigation and prosecution of all individuals connected to the controversial political ambition of Mahmud Sadis Buba, describing the episode as a major national security concern that exposed deep failures in Nigeria’s political, security, and verification systems.
In a statement titled “THE WONDER OF ZARIA: How a 15-Year-Old Boy Fooled Nigeria’s Political Elite, the Presidency, and the Nation’s Security Architecture — A Scandal That Demands Police Investigation and Prosecution,” the organisation said the case goes beyond the actions of one teenager and points to a wider collapse of institutional safeguards across the country.
The statement was issued by the Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics, Dele Kelvin Oye, a Nigerian legal practitioner, entrepreneur, and respected leader.
According to the group, the scandal surrounding Buba, popularly known as “The Wonder of Zaria,” should be treated as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s democracy and governance institutions.
“When a child can sit at the table of kings, and no one asks his age, the kingdom has forgotten what wisdom looks like,” it said, quoting an African proverb.
AERE argued that the case was never simply about youthful ambition but rather about how a teenager allegedly managed to navigate multiple layers of political and administrative scrutiny without detection.
How the Scandal Unfolded
Buba has presented himself as a 30-year-old man with dwarfism and sought to contest for the House of Representatives seat representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the time, he built a campaign around his personal struggles and experiences with discrimination, winning public sympathy and attracting support from many people.
“It is not about me; it is from the people. People called me to serve them, and I will serve,” Buba had reportedly declared during his campaign.
AERE pointed out that the aspiring politician was screened and cleared by party officials and was photographed alongside senior political leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Uba Sani.
The organisation, however, said the narrative changed dramatically after a person claiming to be Buba’s sibling allegedly released his Nigerian international passport online.
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It pointed out that the passport showed that Buba was born on August 27, 2010, making him approximately 15 or 16 years old during his political campaign and far below the constitutional age requirement of 25 years for House of Representatives candidates.
The group further cited a birth certificate, a National Identification Number slip, and testimony from a former teacher as additional evidence allegedly confirming his age.
AERE said Buba later withdrew from the race, citing consultations with family members and party stakeholders before endorsing another APC candidate.
Questions for APC, Security Agencies, Gov’t Institutions
While acknowledging that Buba eventually stepped down, the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics said the more important issue is how he progressed so far within a major political party without his age being detected.
The organisation questioned the effectiveness of the APC screening process, asking how a candidate who allegedly failed to meet constitutional requirements was able to pass through official vetting procedures.
The group also raised concerns about the role of electoral and security institutions, arguing that the incident exposed serious weaknesses in systems designed to verify identities and protect democratic processes.
According to AERE, the controversy raises troubling questions about the effectiveness of background checks and identity verification mechanisms within political and government institutions.
“If a 15-year-old can falsify his age and gain access to Nigeria’s political elite, what does this say about the security of the President himself?” the group asked.
The organisation described the incident as part of a broader pattern of institutional failures that continue to undermine public confidence in governance structures.
“The pattern is clear: Nigeria’s security and verification systems are broken,” the group said.
“Whether it is the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly, or the highest offices of political parties, the gates are wide open for anyone with a convincing story and a forged document.”
Call for Full Investigation, Prosecution
AERE maintained that the matter involves potential legal and constitutional violations that cannot be ignored.
The organisation pointed to allegations relating to age fraud, document forgery, false declarations, constitutional breaches, and possible conspiracy by individuals who may have knowingly assisted the process.
It therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately launch a joint investigation into the matter.
Among its demands, the group called for a forensic examination of all documents allegedly submitted by Buba to political and government institutions, including his passport, birth certificate, NIN records, and school documents.
The organisation also demanded investigations into the APC screening process, the roles of officials within the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Identity Management Commission, as well as the activities of individuals who may have financed or facilitated the campaign.
AERE insisted that every person found to have participated in the alleged fraud should face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The group further called for the findings of any investigation to be made public and presented to the National Assembly.
According to the organisation, the scandal exposes a deeper crisis within Nigeria’s political and bureaucratic systems.
“The Buba scandal exposes something far more dangerous than one fraudulent candidacy,” it said. “It reveals a culture of impunity that has infected Nigeria’s political and bureaucratic systems.”
The organisation warned that unless decisive action is taken, similar incidents could continue to threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and democratic institutions.
“Mahmud Sadis Buba is a symptom, not the disease,” AERE stated. “The disease is a system that rewards spectacle over substance, connections over competence, and fraud over integrity.”
The group concluded by urging authorities to treat the matter as a national priority, insisting that accountability is necessary to restore confidence in the country’s institutions and prevent future abuses.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X