Student Society Future Leader Removed Following Conservative Activist Comments
The president-elect of the prestigious debating society has been ousted from office after failing a vote of confidence that followed his disputed social media posts about Charlie Kirk.
The vote against the student leader reached the required two-thirds threshold to oust him from his position, according to an statement from the organization.
Contentious Posts
The controversy erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted messages on social media that appeared to celebrate the killing of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a college in Utah.
According to sources, one social media message reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.
The president-elect is also said to have posted in a messaging group with other members appearing to welcome the incident.
Election Results
The no-confidence motion was conducted over the recent days, with results revealed on this week.
Official notices showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while just over five hundred were against the motion.
The announcement confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have resigned in accordance with the society's regulations.
Procedural Disputes
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 response, the student claimed that the count had been halted because election administrators believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His statement categorically refuted that any representative acting for George had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.
Continuing Controversy
The student stated that extremely serious issues had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he remained president-elect.
His statement added that he was "proud and thankful to have the support of significantly more than half of university members" who voted to have a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Opponents have argued that any failure to remove him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".
External Reactions
On recently, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an public message to the Oxford Union on The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast.
The message accused the union of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".
The communication warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to remain in post, supporters would "directly reach out to every American political speaker who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".
The society had previously criticized Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and stated that concerns submitted about him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.
The president-elect had been one of several students to discuss with the activist at the society in spring.