Student Society President-Elect Ousted Due to Charlie Kirk Comments

The future president of the Oxford Union has been ousted from office after losing a no-confidence vote that came after his disputed social media posts about Charlie Kirk.

The vote against the student leader reached the necessary two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society.

Disputed Comments

The controversy began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on social media that seemed to welcome the killing of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while addressing a college in the United States.

According to reports, one Instagram post 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 posted in a messaging group with other members seeming to welcome the incident.

Election Results

The vote of confidence was conducted over the recent days, with results announced on Tuesday.

Society announcements showed that 1,228 ballots were cast in favor of removal, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.

The announcement confirmed that the future president was deemed to have resigned in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.

Election Controversies

Proceedings were informally suspended early on the previous day after the returning officer was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals.

In a response, the student asserted that the vote tally had been halted because election administrators believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of process errors".

His response categorically refuted that any person appointed by George had engaged in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Ongoing Dispute

The student maintained that extremely serious issues had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he remained the elected leader.

His statement added that he was "proud and thankful to have the support of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" who supported a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Critics have said that any failure to remove him would "signal to the world that the society has prioritized politics over principles".

External Reactions

On Friday, Mikey McCoy presented an public message to the society on a related program broadcast.

The letter criticized the society of becoming a institution where "presidents of the union publicly celebrate the assassination of a political opponent".

The statement warned that if the student were to keep his position, supporters would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever spoken at the society and urge them never again to lend their name".

The Oxford Union had earlier condemned Mr Abaraonye's comments after Kirk's death and stated that concerns filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

The president-elect had been one of multiple members to discuss with Kirk at the society in spring.