🔗 Share this article Student Society President-Elect Removed Due to Charlie Kirk Posts Charlie Kirk and George Abaraonye took part in a debate at the Oxford Union in spring The president-elect of the Oxford Union has been removed from his position after failing a no-confidence vote that came after his disputed online comments about the conservative activist. The vote against the student leader achieved the required super-majority to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society. Disputed Comments The dispute erupted 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 speaking at a college in Utah. According to sources, one social media message reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the phrase 'lol'. The student leader is also said to have written in a WhatsApp chat with other members appearing to express approval of the event. Vote Outcome The no-confidence motion was conducted over the recent days, with results announced on this week. Official notices indicated that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of removal, while just over five hundred were against the motion. The notice confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have resigned in following the Oxford Union's rules. The Oxford Union shared the result of the confidence motion on Tuesday morning Election Controversies Voting operations were informally suspended early on Monday after the election official was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals. In a response, Mr Abaraonye asserted that the vote tally had been stopped because election administrators believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures". His statement unequivocally denied that any person appointed by the student had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct. Continuing Controversy The student stated that significant concerns had been submitted to the governing body and that he continued as the elected leader. His statement added that he was "proud and thankful to have the support of well in excess of a majority of university members" who supported a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process". Opponents have argued that any failure to remove him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has chosen ideology over integrity". Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while addressing a university in September External Reactions On recently, Kirk's former chief of staff read out an public message to the society on a related program podcast. The message accused the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union publicly celebrate the assassination of a political opponent". The communication warned that if the student were to remain in post, supporters would "personally contact every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and advise them against future participation". The society had previously criticized Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and stated that complaints filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings. The student leader had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the union in May.