TUV leader Jim Allister has been accused of 'ignoring reality' after calling for a "pan-unionist pledge" to block a Sinn Féin first minister if they became the biggest party in the next Assembly election.
The call came after a new poll suggested that the DUP are trailing behind their republican rivals.
A LucidTalk poll suggests DUP support has slumped to just 16 per cent, posing a major challenge for incoming leader Edwin Poots.
Sinn Fein is by far the largest party on 25 per cent, giving it a 9 per cent lead on its nearest challengers and putting Michelle O'Neill on course to take the first minister post at the next election in May 2022.
The poll also put Alliance on 16 per cent, while support for the Ulster Unionist Party rises to 14 per cent, overtaking the SDLP, down one point to 11 per cent.
The online survey for the Belfast Telegraph was carried out from May 14 to 17 among 3,072 people and was weighted to reflect the population of Northern Ireland.
However Mr Allister has warned against the "symbolism" of having a Sinn Féin first minister and branded as "absurd" the system used in Stormont to determine ministerial roles.
The North Antrim MLA said the St Andrew's Agreement that the first minister should come from the largest party in the Assembly was "foolish", and urged unionists in the DUP and UUP to insist on the first minister post being given to the "biggest designated community" represented in Stormont.
"Even though there are likely to be more unionists than nationalists in the assembly, a Sinn Féin First Minister could be foisted on us," Mr Allister said.
"While technically and legally there is no distinction between first minister and deputy first minister – it being a joint office where neither can act without the agreement of the other – the symbolism of a Sinn Féin first minister is seen as important to many, even for those who support the absurd Stormont system."
He continued: "With the DUP seriously slumping in the polls, I wish to make a pan-unionist offer to the DUP and UUP, even though I do not support their system of mandatory coalition, believing there will be more unionists than nationalists in the next sssembly and therefore it would be undemocratic to allow a Sinn Féin first minister.
I suggest a pre-election pan-unionist pledge that if faced with such a possibility no unionist will take any office until there is reversion to the first minister coming from the biggest community."
He added: "That would be wholly reasonable and compatible with democratic first principles. Only those who want to recklessly gamble, in the receding hope of electoral advantage, will reject such a considered and measured proposal."
However, East Derry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter hit out at the suggestion that changes could be made to how ministerial positions are granted.
"Jim Allister’s bogus suggestion ignores the reality that we have two joint first ministers from the DUP and Sinn Féin with equal power in the Executive," she said.
"What people really want is politicians and parties who will work together to create new opportunities and a new society. We’ve had enough of division and deadlock."
