🔗 Share this article

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a vote of confidence that came after his controversial online comments about the conservative activist.

The vote against the student leader achieved the required super-majority to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society.

Disputed Comments

The dispute began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on social media that seemed to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while speaking at a college in Utah.

According to reports, one Instagram post reportedly stated "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 other members seeming to welcome the incident.

Election Results

The no-confidence motion took place over the recent days, with results revealed on Tuesday.

Society announcements showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast in favor of no confidence, while 501 were against the motion.

The notice confirmed that the future president was considered to have stepped down in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.

Election Controversies

Proceedings were temporarily halted early on Monday after the election official was allegedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from several representatives.

In a response, Mr Abaraonye asserted 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 unequivocally denied that any person acting for the student had participated in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Ongoing Dispute

The president-elect stated that significant concerns had been submitted to the governing body and that he continued as the elected leader.

His statement 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 "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

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

External Responses

On recently, Mikey McCoy read out an open letter to the society on a related program podcast.

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

The statement warned 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 advise them against future participation".

The Oxford Union had earlier criticized the student'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 the activist at the society in May.