The proceedings for the vote of no confidence against Union President-Elect George Abaraonye were “informally suspended” from early morning to noon today.
The suspension was announced by a Union notice posted to the bulletin and signed by Extraordinary Returning Officer Donovan Lock. The notice read: “This was not a formal decision taken based on procedural necessity, but rather due to the development of an impossible working atmosphere.”
It continued: “The Extraordinary Returning Officer was subjected to obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility by a number of Representatives, and on account of this had no choice but to informally suspend the process as co-operation and progress was rendered untenable.”
Per Union rules, the vote count “shall be done as soon as is practicable.”
The notice posted today stated: “The voices of Membership must be heard. Therefore, proceedings will resume. The validation of proxy nominations, where unfinished, will continue without Representatives.”
However, a Union source told The Oxford Student later in the day that the count resumed as per the ruling of the Extraordinary Returning Officer around 12:30pm today, without representatives attending. The source added that the verification of proxy ballot emails is being conducted by the Extraordinary Returning Officer, assisted by Poll Officials.
In an Instagram post, Abaraonye stated that he raised the no confidence motion against himself on 13th October to reclaim “true accountability and [affirm] that the Oxford Union must remain a place where students can make mistakes, apologise sincerely, and learn from them.”
The backlash occurred after he appeared to celebrate the shooting of US political activist Charlie Kirk by stating, in part: “CHARLIE KIRK GOT SHOT LET’S [redacted] GO [emoji].”
On Wednesday, the Union’s governing body, Standing Committee (TSC), voted to allow for proxy voting on the no confidence motion.
Proxy voting is remote voting. In this case, Union members needed to submit proof of identity to the Union via email with their votes by Friday evening.
Elected governing body member Arwa Elrayess motioned to invalidate this Committee decision in the chamber on Thursday night. The Oxford Student understands that under Union rules, the President is expected to call on who speaks, and the President reportedly did not call on Elrayess.
This prompted mayhem in the House, with Union members chanting “let her speak” as well as shouting points of order.
The ballot question was: “Should George Abaraonye, President-Elect, be removed as an Officer of the Society?”
Ballots were open to all Union members in-person in the Goodman Library or by proxy on Saturday from 10:00 – 20:00.
Abaraonye, Lock, and the Union have been contacted for comment.
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