🔗 Share this article

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a no-confidence vote that came after his controversial online comments about Charlie Kirk.

The vote against the student leader achieved the required two-thirds threshold to oust him from his position, according to an statement from the organization.

Disputed Comments

The dispute began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on online platforms that appeared to celebrate the death of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while speaking at a college in the United States.

According to reports, 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 written in a messaging group with other members appearing to express approval of the event.

Election Results

The vote of confidence was conducted over the weekend, with outcomes announced on this week.

Official notices indicated that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of no confidence, while 501 were opposed the motion.

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

Procedural Disputes

Proceedings were informally suspended early on Monday after the election official was allegedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from several representatives.

In a statement, Mr Abaraonye claimed that the vote tally had been stopped because electoral officials believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".

His statement categorically refuted that any person acting for the student had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Continuing Controversy

The president-elect maintained that significant concerns had been submitted to the governing body and that he remained president-elect.

His statement added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of significantly more than half of students at Oxford" who supported a "safe election and resist attempts to subvert democracy".

Opponents have said that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".

External Responses

On recently, Mikey McCoy presented an public message to the Oxford Union on The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast.

The message accused the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".

The communication indicated that if Mr Abaraonye were to keep his position, supporters would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".

The society had earlier criticized Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and stated that concerns filed against 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.