Student Society President-Elect Ousted Following Conservative Activist Posts

Student society event
The activist and student leader participated in a discussion at the Oxford Union in spring

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

The vote against George Abaraonye achieved 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 posted messages on online platforms that seemed to welcome the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a university in Utah.

According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.

The student leader is also said to have posted in a messaging group with other members seeming to welcome the incident.

Election Results

The no-confidence motion was conducted over the recent days, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.

Official notices showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while 501 were against the motion.

The announcement stated that the president-elect was considered to have stepped down in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.

Oxford Union announcement
The Oxford Union announced the outcome of the confidence motion on this week

Election Controversies

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

In a response, Mr Abaraonye claimed that the count had been halted because electoral officials believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".

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

Continuing Controversy

The president-elect stated that significant concerns had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as president-elect.

His comment added that George was "grateful and honored to have the support of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" who supported a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

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

Charlie Kirk speaking
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a college in last month

External Reactions

On recently, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an public message to the Oxford Union on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast.

The message accused the union of becoming a place where "student leaders publicly celebrate the assassination of a political opponent".

The communication warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to remain in post, Kirk's allies would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and advise them against future participation".

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

Jacqueline Jimenez
Jacqueline Jimenez

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