Oxford Union Future Leader Removed Due to Charlie Kirk Comments
The future president of the Oxford Union has been removed from his position after failing a no-confidence vote that followed his disputed social media posts about Charlie Kirk.
The motion against the student leader reached the required two-thirds threshold to oust him from his position, according to an statement from the society.
Disputed Comments
The dispute erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on online platforms that seemed to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while addressing a university in the United States.
According to reports, one Instagram post reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.
The president-elect is also said to have posted in a messaging group with other members seeming to express approval of the event.
Vote Outcome
The vote of confidence was conducted over the recent days, with results announced on this week.
Society announcements showed that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of removal, while 501 were against the motion.
The notice stated that the president-elect was considered 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 "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from several representatives.
In a statement, Mr Abaraonye claimed that the count had been halted because election administrators believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His statement categorically refuted that any representative appointed by George had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.
Continuing Controversy
The student maintained that significant concerns had been submitted to the governing body and that he remained the elected leader.
His statement added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of university members" who supported a "safe election and resist attempts to subvert democracy".
Opponents have said that any failure to remove him would "signal to the world that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".
External Responses
On recently, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an open letter to the society on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast.
The letter criticized the society of becoming a institution where "student leaders openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".
The communication warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to keep his position, supporters would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".
The society had previously condemned Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and stated that complaints filed against him had been referred for official review.
The president-elect had been one of several students to discuss with Kirk at the union in spring.