🔗 Share this article Oxford Union President-Elect Removed Following Conservative Activist Comments Charlie Kirk and George Abaraonye took part in a debate at the student society in spring The future president of the prestigious debating society has been ousted from office after failing a vote of confidence that followed his disputed social media posts about the conservative activist. The vote against the student leader achieved the necessary super-majority to oust him from his position, according to an announcement from the society. Disputed Comments The dispute began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on online platforms that appeared to celebrate the killing of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while addressing a college in Utah. According to sources, one social media message reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'. The student leader is also reported to have written in a WhatsApp chat with other members seeming to express approval of the event. Election Results The no-confidence motion took place over the weekend, with outcomes revealed on this week. Society announcements showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting removal, while just over five hundred were against the motion. The announcement stated that the future president was considered to have stepped down in following the society's regulations. The student society announced the result of the confidence motion on this week Procedural Disputes Proceedings were informally suspended early on Monday after the election official was allegedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals. In a response, Mr Abaraonye claimed that the vote tally had been halted because electoral officials believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures". His response categorically refuted that any person acting for George had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct. Ongoing Dispute The president-elect maintained that extremely serious issues had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he remained the elected leader. His statement added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of university members" who supported a "secure voting process and resist attempts to subvert democracy". Critics have said that any failure to remove him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles". Charlie Kirk was shot dead while addressing a college in last month External Reactions On recently, Mikey McCoy read out an public message to the Oxford Union on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast. The letter criticized the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the killing of a political opponent". The statement warned that if the student were to keep his position, Kirk's allies would "directly reach out to every American political speaker who has ever spoken at the society and urge them never again to lend their name". The society had earlier condemned the student's remarks after Kirk's death and stated that complaints submitted about him had been referred for official review. The student leader had been one of multiple members to discuss with Kirk at the society in May.