By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada, appears to be charting a less controversial course in her second term after addressing what many residents described as a political miscalculation in her first tenure.
Between 2021 and July 2025, Bada faced backlash for appointing her younger sister, Muyibat Balogun, as “Chairperson” of the council—an office critics insisted had no constitutional basis. The title was widely viewed as a duplication of the chairman’s role, sparking concerns about nepotism and waste of public funds.
The controversy has now eased following the 2025 local government elections, where Balogun contested and won the councillorship seat for Ward J, Ajegunle. Observers say the victory has “legitimised” her role in the council and quelled earlier concerns about misapplication of public resources.
Political watchers also point out that Bada’s husband, Hon. Tola Banjo, remains constitutionally entitled to certain benefits as the official spouse of the council chairman, in line with long-standing conventions.
Still, the chairman’s political journey is not without hurdles. She is currently battling a legal challenge at the election tribunal alongside the test of Lagos State’s newly enacted tenure-limit law, which could alter the trajectory of her career.
As Princess Bada prepares to unveil her new cabinet, analysts caution against repeating the first-term error of allocating offices to family members. They stress that prioritising loyal party members who played critical roles in electoral victories will be essential to maintaining credibility and avoiding renewed public scrutiny.