🔗 Share this article

The president-elect of the Oxford Union has been ousted from office after losing a no-confidence vote that followed his controversial online comments about the conservative activist.

The vote against George Abaraonye achieved the necessary super-majority to oust him from his position, according to an statement from the organization.

Disputed Comments

The controversy began after the student reportedly shared messages on online platforms that seemed to celebrate the killing of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while speaking at a college in the United States.

According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the phrase 'lol'.

The president-elect is also reported to have written in a WhatsApp chat with fellow students seeming to express approval of the event.

Election Results

The vote of confidence was conducted over the recent days, with results announced on Tuesday.

Society announcements showed that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of removal, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.

The notice stated that the president-elect was deemed to have resigned in accordance with the society's regulations.

Election Controversies

Voting operations were temporarily halted early on the previous day after the returning officer was allegedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals.

In a statement, the student claimed that the vote tally had been stopped because electoral officials believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".

His response unequivocally denied that any person acting for George had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Continuing Controversy

The student maintained that extremely serious issues had been submitted to the governing body and that he continued as the elected leader.

His statement added that George was "proud and thankful to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of university members" who voted to have a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Opponents have said that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the society has prioritized politics over principles".

External Reactions

On recently, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an public message to the society on a related program podcast.

The letter accused the society of becoming a institution where "presidents of the union openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".

The communication warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to keep his position, supporters would "personally contact every American political speaker who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".

The Oxford Union had earlier criticized Mr Abaraonye's remarks after the activist's killing and confirmed that complaints filed against him had been referred for official review.

The president-elect had been one of several students to debate with the activist at the union in spring.