🔗 Share this article

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been ousted from office after failing a no-confidence vote that came after his disputed online comments about Charlie Kirk.

The motion against the student leader reached the required super-majority to remove him from office, according to an statement from the organization.

Disputed Comments

The controversy erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on social media that appeared to welcome the killing of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a university in Utah.

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

The president-elect is also said to have written in a WhatsApp chat with other members seeming to express approval of the event.

Vote Outcome

The vote of confidence took place over the weekend, with results announced on this week.

Official notices showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting removal, while 501 were opposed the motion.

The notice confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have resigned in following the society's regulations.

Election Controversies

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

In a statement, the student claimed that the count had been halted because election administrators believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of process errors".

His response categorically refuted that any representative acting for George had engaged in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Continuing Controversy

The student stated that extremely serious issues had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he remained the elected leader.

His comment added that George was "proud and thankful to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of university members" 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 society has chosen ideology over integrity".

External Responses

On Friday, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an public message to the Oxford Union on a related program broadcast.

The message accused the union of becoming a place where "presidents of the union publicly celebrate the killing of a political opponent".

The statement warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to remain in post, supporters would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever spoken at the society and advise them against future participation".

The Oxford Union had earlier condemned Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and confirmed that concerns submitted about him had been referred for official review.

The student leader had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the society in May.