An outspoken DUP councillor wants the party to investigate his local group after threatening to resign the whip in a row over the allocation of council positions.
John Carson called for "fairness" in how the party on Mid and East Antrim council shares out committee chair and vice-chair roles, which attract extra pay.
The Ballymena councillor complained that he passed up a vice-chair post in 2019 after being "wrongly informed that I would be paid as veterans champion".
In a message to party colleagues seen by Belfast Live, Mr Carson said he intended to resign the DUP whip and remain a party member.
However, it is believed the veteran councillor has since backtracked on this threat.
It is the latest row facing the DUP amid continuing turmoil over the ousting of former leader Arlene Foster and the subsequent election of Edwin Poots.
Mr Carson, who endorsed Mr Poots for the leadership, wrote to party colleagues: "It is with a very heavy heart and sorrow of soul that I give notice of my intention to resign the DUP whip on council.
"If I live to September 2021 I will be 40 years a party member and I fully intend to remain a member of the party.
"My reason for taking this decision is around the way positions of responsibility are shared and the fact that some people have been holding positions for two and three years at a time, also the positions seem to be set out to suit certain people who are on those committees.
"I have carried out a full survey of the positions and those who have held them since the commencement of Mid and East Antrim in 2014.
"It is my intention to hand this information over to the party officers and ask them to conduct an investigation into the workings of the group."
Mr Carson added the last time he had a position was in 2016.
He said he was due a vice-chair role in 2019 but this was given to another councillor after being "wrongly informed that I would be paid as veterans champion".
He added: "Let me make it very clear I am not one who holds grudges nor do I seek discord.
"All I want is fair treatment not only for myself but for every other member of the group.
"My loyalty and service to the DUP will stand up to any scrutiny and no-one can accuse me of being in it for money as when l first was elected like others there was no money in those days and quite often it costs you to be a councillor.
"I bear no personal grudge against anyone but I feel I can no longer give my support to the group on council."
The DUP has been approached for a comment.
The outspoken councillor has previously faced heavy criticism for various controversial online comments.
In April, he shared a poster on his Facebook page supporting Mr Poots for DUP leader, telling his followers that Sinn Féin vice-president and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill would be "put back in her kennel".
He later apologised, describing it as a "robust comment made in anger".
Mr Carson was accused of spreading "dangerous misinformation" last year in his reasons for refusing a Covid-19 vaccine.
He also caused controversy for claiming the pandemic was God's judgement for abortion law reforms and legalising same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
