Oxford Union Future Leader Ousted Due to Charlie Kirk Comments
The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a vote of confidence that came after his disputed social media posts about the conservative activist.
The motion against George Abaraonye reached the required super-majority to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society.
Disputed Comments
The controversy erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted messages on online platforms that seemed to celebrate the death of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while addressing 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 student leader is also reported to have posted in a messaging group with other members seeming to welcome the incident.
Vote Outcome
The vote of confidence was conducted over the recent days, with outcomes revealed on this week.
Official notices indicated that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of no confidence, while just over five hundred were against the motion.
The announcement confirmed that the future president was considered to have resigned in following the society's regulations.
Procedural Disputes
Proceedings were informally suspended early on the previous day after the returning officer 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 election administrators believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of process errors".
His response categorically refuted that any person acting for George had participated in intimidating or disruptive behavior.
Continuing Controversy
The president-elect maintained that extremely serious issues had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he remained the elected leader.
His statement added that he was "proud and thankful to have the backing 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 said that any decision to keep 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 open letter to the society on a related program podcast.
The letter criticized the union of becoming a institution where "student leaders openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".
The communication warned that if Mr Abaraonye were to remain in post, Kirk's allies would "personally contact every U.S. political figure who has ever spoken at the society and urge them never again to lend their name".
The society had previously criticized Mr Abaraonye's remarks after the activist's killing and stated that complaints submitted about him had been referred for official review.
The student leader had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the union in spring.