The Oxford Union president who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s shooting could be ousted this Saturday after a poll on his future was opened up to tens of thousands of proxy voters from around the world.
George Abaraonye, 20, sparked outrage last month by posting a WhatsApp message appearing to approve of the violence against the US influencer.
He later deleted the message after learning of Mr Kirk’s death, and admitted he ‘acted poorly’ without ‘knowing about the situation’.
Now, in an unusual step, the Oxford University student has triggered a motion of no confidence against himself in a bid to reclaim ‘true accountability’.
It means there will be a poll on Saturday when Oxford Union members can vote on whether to oust him.
Mr Abaraonye is hoping enough people vote in his favour so that he can continue in his role with renewed legitimacy.
He posted on Instagram: ‘On Saturday 18th October there will be a poll of the members to decide whether or not I should be removed as President-Elect of the Oxford Union. ‘Vote NO. As I will be doing.’
The Oxford Union president who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s shooting could be ousted this Saturday after a poll on his future was opened up to tens of thousands of proxy voters from around the world. Pictured: Charlie Kirk (left) debates with George Abaraonye (right) at the Oxford Union in May 2025
However, his chances of winning are in doubt after voting was thrown open to proxy voters yesterday.
It means tens of thousands of students and alumni living around the world can take part, as long as they are still current Oxford Union members.
In order to qualify, they need to email the union with proof of identity by Friday, asking for a poll official to cast a vote on their behalf.
There is currently a campaign by a group calling themselves Concerned Alumni of the Oxford Union to get enough people to sign up to have him ousted.
The group is made up of dozens of former officers of the Union.
A spokesman said: ‘The Oxford Union and its parent organisation OLDUT have so far failed to deal with the sickening and unacceptable actions of their president – it now falls to the society’s members, and particularly its alumni, to demonstrate that the Oxford Union does not tolerate the incitement or celebration of political violence.
‘After Concerned Alumni raised the issue of the importance of full participation in this vote and requested proxy voting, this has been allowed – an unprecedented decision.
‘Mr Abaraonye’s words upset and appalled members across the world – we strongly urge all life members to head to the union on Saturday to stand up to hatred, intolerance, and the celebration of violence.’
George Abaraonye, 20, sparked outrage last month by posting a Whatsapp message (pictured) appearing to approve of the violence against the US influencer
In a university magazine, he was recently billed as ‘icon of the week’ and was also described by student peers as ‘the guy who is everywhere and anywhere’ at Oxford
Mr Abaraonye will be forced to resign as president-elect if two thirds of those taking part in the poll vote against him.
The Oxford Union is a 200-year-old debating society for Oxford students and alumni which is independent from university management.
The university has so far not taken any disciplinary action against Mr Abaraonye.
The furore erupted after Mr Abaraonye, a second-year philosophy, politics and economics student, appeared to celebrate the sniper attack on the US influencer in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
He posted social media messages on the evening of September 10, including one saying: ‘Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f—— go’ – a common celebratory phrase among Gen Z.
In a YouTube interview this week, he claimed he had been ‘misrepresented’ by the media because he hadn’t realised Kirk had died when he posted the messages.
He said: ‘I reacted poorly, I reacted very quickly. At the time I didn’t know anything about the situation.
‘I retracted and deleted my comments, and the stories came out a day later saying I celebrated his death. But at this point I had no clue.’
Asked if he would have said it if he’d seen the video of the shooting, he said: ‘No’.
