A vote of no confidence in Oxford Union’s president-elect has been informally suspended after the returning officer faced “intimidation” from a number of representatives during the counting process.
George Abaraonye, 20, faces calls to stand down from his position after he appeared to celebrate the assassination of Conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
Thousands of members of the prestigious Oxford Union were eligible to take part in the vote, with results expected to be announced on Sunday, but the outcome has been put on hold due to what officials described as an “impossible working atmosphere”.
Returning Officer Subjected to “Obstruction and Intimidation”
According to a notice seen by GB News, the “Extraordinary Returning Officer was subjected to obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility” by “a number of representatives” during the vote counting process.
The letter stated: “The decision to suspend at the time was not one made due to the material substance of the election process, but rather on account of present parties actively subtracting from the Extraordinary Returning Officer’s efforts to ascertain a result.”
It emphasised: “Returning a result is of utmost importance. The Membership have voted in large numbers, and the Oxford Union Society is fundamentally a democratic institution. The voices of the Membership must be heard.”
President-Elect Challenging Every Proxy Vote
GB News understands Mr Abaraonye has been challenging every proxy vote during the counting process, significantly slowing proceedings.
It is also understood that the Oxford Union has “lost” membership registers dating from 1961 to 1980, resulting in a number of life peers and ex-presidents being turned away from proceedings.
The missing registers have complicated efforts to verify historic memberships and proxy votes, adding to the chaos surrounding the confidence ballot.
Abaraonye Claims He’s Fighting for “Free Speech“
Mr Abaraonye said in an earlier Instagram post that he submitted a motion of confidence in himself in 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”.
In another post on Saturday, the incoming president told union members: “Today is your opportunity to affirm Free Speech, to stand against the racism of the Far Right, and to stand up for the principles the Union has championed for 200 years.”
He added: “Two centuries later, the same people who claim to believe in the Union are now acting in stark opposition to the Union’s founding principles, by supporting a campaign of harassment, censorship, and abuse. We will not be silenced.”
Controversy Over Celebration of Kirk Assassination
Mr Abaraonye, who became president-elect of the historic debating society after a vote earlier this year, faced controversy after Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event in September.
The 31-year-old Conservative activist was a Donald Trump ally and co-founder and chief executive of Turning Point USA.
Leaked WhatsApp messages showed Mr Abaraonye writing: “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f****** go” shortly after news emerged that the father-of-two had been assassinated.
A separate message read: “Charlie Kirk got shot loool”, an elongated version of the “laugh out loud” acronym.
Oxford Union Condemned Remarks
In a statement last month, the Oxford Union condemned Mr Abaraonye’s remarks and confirmed that complaints filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.
The society’s response came after widespread outrage over the messages, which many interpreted as celebrating the murder of a political opponent.
Kirk Allies Threaten Boycott
Former colleagues of Mr Kirk have vowed to lead a boycott of the society if Mr Abaraonye is not ousted following the confidence vote.
On Friday’s episode of The Charlie Kirk Show podcast, the murdered influencer’s allies said if the student was not ejected, it would “signal to the world that the Oxford Union has chosen ideology over integrity”.
Mikey McCoy, Mr Kirk’s former chief of staff and a senior Turning Point USA official, read an open letter to the Oxford Union on behalf of himself and two of the murdered influencer’s closest allies.
The letter accused the prestigious debating society of overseeing a decline in morality which sees “presidents of the union publicly celebrate the assassination of a political opponent.
Fears Over Permanent Reputational Damage
It emerged on Saturday that some officials within the Oxford Union fear the comments may have permanently tarnished the reputation of the society, one of the world’s most prestigious debating institutions.
The Oxford Union, founded in 1823, has hosted speeches from Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, Malcolm X, and numerous world leaders throughout its 200-year history.
The society’s reputation for fostering rigorous debate and maintaining political neutrality now faces its most serious challenge in recent memory.
Vote to Resume Under Stricter Conditions
Officials have announced that proceedings will resume, but under significantly stricter conditions designed to prevent further disruption.
The validation of proxy nominations will continue without representatives present, a highly unusual step reflecting the breakdown in trust during the initial counting process.
During the resumed count, no representatives who were present during the initial attempt will be allowed to continue participating.
If either the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ campaign fails to send representatives, the Extraordinary Returning Officer will appoint a neutral Electoral Official to serve on their behalf.
Warning of Immediate Removal
The letter made clear that “any Member who behaves in an intimidating, aggressive, or otherwise disruptive manner shall be removed from the Count Room with immediate effect”.
It stated: “It is not unreasonable to expect that Representatives treat Electoral Officials with basic courtesy, and the treatment levied towards them last night, and in particular that directed towards the Extraordinary Returning Officer, is utterly unacceptable.”
The strongly-worded warning suggests officials experienced significant hostility during the initial counting attempt.
Democratic Process at Stake
The suspension of the vote has raised questions about the health of democratic processes within the Oxford Union itself.
The letter emphasised that “the Oxford Union Society is fundamentally a democratic institution” and stressed that “the voices of the Membership must be heard”.
However, the ability to hear those voices has been compromised by the alleged intimidation of electoral officials and the obstructive behaviour of some representatives.
Historic Institution Faces Crisis
The Oxford Union has weathered numerous controversies throughout its two-century history, including debates over who should be invited to speak and disputes over election results.
However, the current crisis represents an unusual combination of factors: a president-elect accused of celebrating a political assassination, allegations of intimidation during democratic processes, and missing historic membership records.
The resolution of the confidence vote will determine not only Mr Abaraonye’s future but also set a precedent for how the society handles serious misconduct allegations against its elected officers.
As the Oxford Union prepares to resume counting under heightened security and stricter protocols, the institution founded to champion free speech and rigorous debate finds itself grappling with fundamental questions about its own values and processes.
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