Student Society President-Elect Ousted Due to Conservative Activist Comments

Student society event
The activist and student leader took part in a debate at the student society in spring

The president-elect of the prestigious debating society has been ousted from office after losing a no-confidence vote that followed his controversial social media posts about Charlie Kirk.

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

Disputed Comments

The controversy began after the student reportedly posted messages on social media that appeared to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while speaking at a university in Utah.

According to sources, one social media message reportedly stated "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 appearing to express approval of the event.

Election Results

The no-confidence motion was conducted over the recent days, with results announced on this week.

Official notices showed that 1,228 ballots were cast supporting no confidence, while 501 were opposed the motion.

The notice stated that the future president was considered to have resigned in following the society's regulations.

Society notice
The student society announced the result of the confidence motion on this week

Procedural Disputes

Voting operations were temporarily halted early on Monday after the election official was allegedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from multiple individuals.

In a response, the student claimed that the count had been halted 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 acting for George had engaged in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Ongoing Dispute

The student stated that extremely serious issues had been referred to the governing body and that he continued as president-elect.

His comment added that he was "proud and thankful to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of university members" who voted to have a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

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

Charlie Kirk speaking
The conservative activist was shot dead while addressing a university in September

External Reactions

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

The letter accused the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the killing of a political opponent".

The statement indicated 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 Oxford Union had previously criticized Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and confirmed that complaints submitted about him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

The president-elect had been one of multiple members to discuss with Kirk at the society in spring.

Whitney Anderson
Whitney Anderson

A fiber artist and educator with over a decade of experience in traditional and modern weaving methods.