Oxford Union Future Leader Removed Following Conservative Activist Comments

Student society event
Charlie Kirk and George Abaraonye participated in a debate at the Oxford Union in spring

The president-elect of the Oxford Union has been ousted from office after losing a vote of confidence that came after his disputed online comments about the conservative activist.

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

Disputed Comments

The controversy erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted messages on social media that appeared to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while addressing a college in the United States.

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

The student leader is also reported to have written in a messaging group with fellow students appearing to welcome the incident.

Election Results

The vote of confidence took place over the weekend, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.

Society announcements showed that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of no confidence, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.

The notice confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have stepped down in following the Oxford Union's rules.

Society notice
The student society announced the outcome of the confidence motion on Tuesday morning

Procedural Disputes

Voting operations were informally suspended early on the previous day after the election official was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals.

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

His response categorically refuted that any person appointed by the student had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Continuing Controversy

The student maintained that extremely serious issues had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he remained president-elect.

His comment added that George 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 resist attempts to subvert democracy".

Opponents have argued that any failure to remove him would "signal to the world that the society has chosen ideology over integrity".

Charlie Kirk speaking
The conservative activist was fatally shot while addressing a college in last month

External Reactions

On recently, Kirk's former chief of staff read out an public message to the Oxford Union on a related program podcast.

The letter accused the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union publicly celebrate the killing of a ideological rival".

The statement indicated 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 society had earlier condemned Mr Abaraonye's comments after Kirk's death and confirmed that concerns submitted about 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 spring.

Gilbert George
Gilbert George

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