NORTH Belfast MP Nigel Doods has dramatically ruled himself out of the DUP leadership race just two days before nominations close.
The shock announcement comes just a week after the party announced it was to elect a new leader to replace Peter Robinson.
Mr Dodds, who was expected to become party leader with Finance Minister Arlene Foster taking the post of First Minister, said he had "been giving much prayerful thought to my own position and what is in the best interests of the party", since his leader stepped down.
"I believe that in the Assembly Arlene Foster is the leader that can take our party and Northern Ireland forward to an even better future," he said.
"I am previously on record as stating clearly my view about the disadvantage of attempting to lead a modern Northern Ireland party from Westminster when we now have devolved government. Indeed I have previously made my view known in discussions with senior colleagues."
The party's assembly members, MPs and its one MEP, Diane Dodds, will vote for a new leader on December 17.
Nominations for the post opened on December 1 and are due to close on Wednesday, December 9.
The vote was to take place at a hotel in east Belfast - Mr Robinson's MLA constituency.
Mr Robinson ended months of speculation last month when he announced his intention to stand down within weeks.
The move came just days after he signed a political agreement with coalition partners Sinn Féin and the British and Irish governments to secure the devolved power-sharing institutions.
A week later at his party conference, Mr Robinson, who has been a key figure in Northern Ireland politics for more than four decades, said the time was right to bow out and let the "next generation" take over.
See statement in full
Following Peter’s announcement that he was stepping down as leader and First Minister I have been giving much prayerful thought to my own position and what is in the best interests of the party.
For a long time I have been consistent in my belief that, with devolution now firmly established in Northern Ireland, I would only put my name forward for leader if I was a member of the Stormont Assembly.
I am previously on record as stating clearly my view about the disadvantage of attempting to lead a modern Northern Ireland party from Westminster when we now have devolved government. Indeed I have previously made my view known in discussions with senior colleagues.
I have been humbled by the expressions of support from many quarters in recent days and therefore have taken time to reflect further.
I remain of the view that being at Westminster means I would not be able to devote the necessary day to day focus and time to the role of leader and, at the same time, properly and fully carry out my duties and responsibilities in the House of Commons.
The work and the opportunities for Northern Ireland at Westminster have already grown significantly and especially recently as a result of the DUP’s position in a House of Commons where the Government has such a small majority. That work and those opportunities are only set to increase over the course of the five years of this Parliamentary term.
I am conscious too that my wife Diane is also fully committed in her work as an MEP.
Whilst in other circumstances it would be natural and a great honour to lead the party, it would be wrong in my current circumstances to put my own personal standing above what I believe to be the long term best interests of the party and the people we serve.
I believe that in the Assembly Arlene Foster is the leader that can take our party and Northern Ireland forward to an even better future.
I will continue to fulfill my duties to the party as Deputy Leader and working together as part of a strong team of DUP representatives at every level we will continue to offer the best opportunity to advance the cause of unionism at Stormont and Westminster.
