The Democratic Unionist Party's Jim Allister has resigned over its powersharing deal with Gerry Adams, claiming Sinn Féin was still not fit for government.
Jim Allister: 'It seems to me that, sadly, the lure of office has clouded the party's judgment'
In his east Belfast office, Mr Allister admitted he had lost a battle within the DUP against the party striking a powersharing deal with Sinn Féin. "It is with immense sadness that I must resign from the DUP," he declared.
"To continue as the DUP's MEP, it would be my obligation to accept the party executive policy decision to usher Sinn Féin into government in a few short weeks.
"This, in conscience, I cannot do. Thus, I must resign from the DUP. Sinn Féin, in my view, is not fit for government. Nor can it be in a few weeks."
It is the second time the party's sole MEP has resigned from the DUP. In 1987 he resigned after he was prevented from standing for a Westminster seat because of an electoral pact with the Ulster Unionists.
But in 2004, he was persuaded back into frontline DUP politics when the Reverend Ian Paisley stood down from the European Parliament and topped the Northern Ireland-wide European election poll.
It is believed the image of the Rev Ian Paisley and Mr Adams sitting side by side in Stormont's Parliament Buildings, sealing a deal that would see their parties form a powersharing government on May 8th, finally pushed the MEP over the edge.
He said today: "I have fought a protracted battle within the party over recent months against a premature DUP/Sinn Féin government. I now have to accept that this battle is lost.
"I just cannot comprehend how the DUP can contemplate government, particularly where it will be joined at the hip in the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, with an organisation which clings to an illegal army council of an illegal army," Mr Allister said.
"It seems to me that, sadly, the lure of office has clouded the party's judgment."