Prince Olatunji Olusoji, businessman, philanthropist and the Asiwaju I of Ayere Kingdom in Kogi West, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has attracted attention across Kogi State’s political landscape.

Olusoji, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Grosvenor Group and founder of the Prince Olatunji Olusoji Foundation (PROOF), was received into the ruling party by Kogi State governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, at an event attended by party leaders and government officials. The occasion marked his formal defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

Party leaders described his entry into the APC as a significant boost to the party’s strength in Kogi West and the state at large.

Speaking at the event, Prince Olusoji said his decision to join the APC was informed by his belief that the party has positively influenced governance at both the federal and state levels. He noted that his long-standing involvement in community development, education and empowerment aligns with the development agenda of the current Kogi State administration.

Prince Olusoji is widely known for his philanthropic activities across Kogi West and beyond. Through PROOF, he has supported students, institutions and vulnerable groups with scholarships, educational funding, empowerment programmes and social interventions amounting to hundreds of millions of naira.

His work has earned him several awards for service to humanity.

Addressing Governor Ododo, Olusoji pledged the support of the Okun people for the administration and its development agenda. He expressed confidence in the governor’s leadership and said he was ready to mobilise political and grassroots support for the APC in Kogi West.

He added that the Okun Nation believes in fairness, equity and justice, and that their support for the APC is based on expectations of inclusive governance and balanced development across all parts of the state.

In his response, Governor Ododo described Olusoji’s decision to join the APC as timely and significant, saying it reflected growing confidence in the direction of governance in Kogi State.

He noted that many residents of the state had benefited from Olusoji’s interventions, particularly in education and youth development, citing scholarships and financial support for students in tertiary institutions.

The governor also commended former Governor Yahaya Bello and other party leaders for laying the foundation for unity within the APC in Kogi State and expressed optimism that the inclusion of influential figures such as Prince Olusoji would further strengthen the party.

During the event, Prince Olusoji, who is also the Patron of the Kogi Market Men and Women Association, distributed vocational and business kits valued at millions of naira to members of his constituency.

Organisers said the empowerment programme was aimed at promoting self-reliance and economic stability.

Party leaders and supporters commended Olusoji for his consistent support for community development irrespective of political affiliation, noting that his formal entry into the APC signals a new phase of political engagement focused on service, development and grassroots participation.