North First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster is to step down from both positions.
Foster, who recently said that she would leave the island of Ireland in the event of unity said she would stand down as party leader on May 28 and as first minister at the end of June.
The announcement comes 24 hours after an sizeable internal heave against her by DUP politicians unhappy with her leadership, the BBC was reporting.
The 50-year-old indicated her resignation will mark the end of her political career, as she said she was preparing to "depart the political stage."
Earlier reports had indicated that a significant number of DUP members had signed on to a letter of no confidence in her leadership and that of her deputy, Nigel Dodds. RollingNews.ie file photo.
