Student Society Future Leader Ousted Due to Charlie Kirk Posts
The future president of the Oxford Union has been ousted from office after losing a vote of confidence that came after his disputed social media posts about the conservative activist.
The motion against the student leader achieved the necessary super-majority to remove him from office, according to an statement from the society.
Disputed Comments
The controversy erupted after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted messages on social media that appeared to celebrate the killing of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while addressing a university in Utah.
According to sources, one social media message 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 written in a messaging group with fellow students appearing to welcome the incident.
Vote Outcome
The vote of confidence was conducted over the weekend, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.
Society announcements indicated that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting removal, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.
The announcement stated that the future president was deemed to have stepped down in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.
Election Controversies
Voting operations were temporarily halted early on Monday after the returning officer was allegedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from several representatives.
In a response, Mr Abaraonye asserted that the vote tally had been stopped 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 appointed by George had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct.
Ongoing Dispute
The student maintained that significant concerns had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he remained president-elect.
His comment added that George was "proud and thankful to have the backing of significantly more than half of students at Oxford" who voted to have a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Opponents have argued that any failure to remove him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".
External Reactions
On Friday, Mikey McCoy read out an public message to the Oxford Union on a related program broadcast.
The letter accused the union of becoming a institution where "presidents of the union publicly celebrate the assassination of a political opponent".
The communication indicated that if Mr Abaraonye were to remain in post, supporters would "personally contact every American political speaker who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".
The Oxford Union had earlier criticized Mr Abaraonye's remarks after Kirk's death and stated that complaints filed against him had been referred for official review.
The student leader had been one of multiple members to discuss with the activist at the society in spring.