🔗 Share this article

The president-elect of the Oxford Union has been removed from his position after failing a vote of confidence that followed his disputed online comments about Charlie Kirk.

The vote against George Abaraonye reached the necessary two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the organization.

Disputed Comments

The dispute erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on online platforms that seemed to welcome the death of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while speaking at a college in Utah.

According to reports, one Instagram post reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.

The president-elect is also reported to have posted in a messaging group with other members seeming to express approval of the event.

Election Results

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

Society announcements showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.

The announcement confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have resigned in accordance with the society's regulations.

Election Controversies

Proceedings were temporarily halted early on Monday after the election official was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals.

In a statement, the student asserted that the vote tally had been halted because electoral officials believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of process errors".

His statement categorically refuted that any person acting for the student had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Ongoing Dispute

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 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".

Critics have said that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has chosen ideology over integrity".

External Responses

On Friday, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an open letter to the society on a related program podcast.

The letter criticized the society of becoming a institution where "student leaders openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".

The statement warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to keep his position, supporters would "personally contact every U.S. political figure who has ever spoken at the society and advise them against future participation".

The society had earlier criticized Mr Abaraonye's comments after Kirk's death and confirmed that complaints filed against him had been referred for official review.

The student leader had been one of multiple members to discuss with the activist at the society in spring.