DUP leader and Northern Ireland's first minister Arlene Foster is under pressure after a large majority of MLAs pushed for a leadership challenge.
It was widely reported yesterday evening that three-quarters of the party's assembly members signed a letter demanding a leadership contest.
The news was first reported by the Belfast News Letter.
It comes amid dissatisfaction around the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.
Hardline and evangelical members of the party are also reportedly unhappy with Ms Foster's decision to abstain in a recent vote to ban the practice of gay conversion therapy.
The DUP has not officially commented on the reports.
Ms Foster, however, said stories around leadership come up 'from time to time' - saying the party would deal with it and she has 'bigger things to do'.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Amanda Ferguson - freelance journalist in Belfast - said it does appear Ms Foster now faces a major challenge to her leadership.
She said: "If the overwhelming majority of the party are moving against her, it’s hard to imagine how she could survive.
“My understanding is 22 of the DUP’s 27 MLAs have signed [the letter] expressing support for a leadership contest."
Ms Ferguson said these issues have been "bubbling for quite a while", but the scale of the internal DUP opposition to Ms Foster is still very unusual.
She said: “The party discipline is something that’s usually very strict.
"If the DUP ousts Arlene Foster, all the problems and challenges they face still remain.
“Whoever might take over… the challenges that lie ahead for whoever takes over are considerable.”
Ms Ferguson explained that the MLAs' letter is also calling for deputy leader Nigel Dodds to go.
She said the likes of Jeffrey Donaldson, Edwin Poots, Sammy Wilson and Gavin Robinson could be interested in a leadership bid.
However, she noted the party could consider splitting the roles of DUP leader and Northern Ireland first minister - meaning there would be two senior roles available.
