🔗 Share this article

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a no-confidence vote that came after his disputed social media posts about the conservative activist.

The motion against George Abaraonye achieved the required two-thirds threshold to oust him from his position, according to an statement from the society.

Disputed Comments

The dispute began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on online platforms that seemed to celebrate the killing of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a college in the United States.

According to sources, one social media message reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the phrase 'lol'.

The student leader is also reported to have posted in a messaging group with other members appearing to welcome the incident.

Vote Outcome

The vote of confidence was conducted over the recent days, with outcomes announced on this week.

Society announcements indicated that 1,228 ballots were cast supporting removal, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.

The announcement stated that the future president was deemed to have stepped down in following the Oxford Union's rules.

Election Controversies

Voting operations were informally suspended early on Monday after the election official was allegedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from several representatives.

In a statement, the student claimed that the vote tally had been stopped because election administrators believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".

His statement categorically refuted that any person appointed by the student had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Continuing Controversy

The president-elect maintained that significant concerns had been submitted to the governing body and that he continued as president-elect.

His comment added that he was "grateful and honored to have the support of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" who supported a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Critics have said that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".

External Responses

On recently, Mikey McCoy read out an public message to the society on a related program broadcast.

The letter criticized the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the killing of a ideological rival".

The communication indicated that if Mr Abaraonye were to keep his position, Kirk's allies would "personally contact every American political speaker who has ever spoken at the society and urge them never again to lend their name".

The society had previously condemned Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and confirmed that concerns filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

The president-elect had been one of multiple members to discuss with the activist at the society in May.