A motion of no confidence brought against Oxford Union President-Elect George Abaraonye has passed, with 1,288 of 1,746 ballots in favor.
Background to the Vote
Abaraonye called the motion in September following international backlash over his remarks about the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His comments, later deleted, led several invited speakers and alumni to withdraw support for the Union.
Abaraonye has however formally contested the results, claiming irregularities in the voting process. A spokesperson told Cherwell:
“This poll was compromised from the moment Moosa Harraj (Oxford Union president) and his majority on the Standing Committee introduced untested Poll Regulations. We do not know if or how many proxy votes were tampered with.” He said.
Reactions to Earlier Comment
Abaraonye’s earlier comments on Charlie Kirk had prompted widespread condemnation, including from StopAntisemitism and venture capitalist Josh Wolfe, who withdrew from future events. James Price, a former Conservative Party Chief of Staff, also resigned as honorary secretary of the Oxford Literary Debating & Union Trust (OLDUT) in protest.
In response to the backlash, Abaraonye said:
“I reacted impulsively to the news of the shooting and made comments that I quickly deleted once I learned of Charlie’s death. Those words did not reflect my values.”
Both the Oxford Union and the African Caribbean Society later issued statements condemning the racist abuse and threats directed at Abaraonye, with the Oxford Feminist Society expressing solidarity.
What Happens Next
A separate vote of no confidence in current Union President Moosa Harraj is now scheduled for Thursday, after the required 150 signatures were gathered over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Abaraonye’s team maintains that the no-confidence result against him is invalid, claiming that procedural flaws and mishandling of proxy votes rendered a “legitimate result impossible.”