Society president-elect faces vote after Kirk posts

Charlie Kirk and George Abaraonye took part in a debate at the Oxford Union in May

The president-elect of the Oxford Union will face a no-confidence vote this weekend after he came under fire for comments made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's death.

George Abaraonye confirmed in a post on Instagram a poll of members will take place on Saturday to decide whether or not he will be removed as president-elect.

The vote will be open to tens of thousands of members of the Oxford Union to vote in person or by proxy.

It comes after Mr Abaraonye reportedly posted on social media after news of the shooting of American Conservative activist Kirk broke, seeming to welcome it.

He said he had submitted the motion of no confidence in himself.

It was an attempt to reclaim "true accountability and (reaffirm) that the Oxford Union must remain a place where students can make mistakes, apologise sincerely, and learn from them", he said online.

In the same Instagram post, Mr Abaraonye said he had been facing violent threats as well as classist and racist harassment.

"Some members have raised genuine concerns and done so respectfully," he wrote.

"I am deeply grateful to those who reached out, met with me, and engaged in honest reflection.

"But their reasoned voices have been drowned out by bad-faith actors who have twisted my words, clipped my speeches, and fabricated intent to fit a pre-written narrative."

Charlie Kirk was shot dead while speaking at a university in September

Mr Abaraonye, who became president-elect after a vote earlier this year, has faced controversy since his comments in the wake of September's shooting of Kirk.

According to the Telegraph, he posted a message on Instagram which read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - an elongated version of the phrase "lol" which means "laughing out loud".

He is also said to have posted in a WhatsApp chat with fellow students, appearing to welcome the incident.

In a statement last month, the Oxford Union condemned his remarks and said the complaints filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

It later issued a second statement condemning the racial abuse and threats Mr Abaraonye had faced.

The president-elect had been one of several students to debate with Mr Kirk at the union in May.

Kirk, an influential right-wing activist and close ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead while speaking at a university in Utah in September.

Society members will be able to take part in the no-confidence vote from 10:00 until 20:00 BST on Saturday, with those voting via proxy having to register before Friday evening.