A former PSNI officer will be the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Jon Burrows who was the only candidate when nominations closed.
Mr Burrows will replace Mike Nesbitt as leader in February.
The other expected candidate, Lagan Valley MLA Robbie Butler, announced that he would not enter the contest.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong supported Mr Burrows and is likely to be the next deputy leader of the UUP.
Mr Burrows replaced Colin Crawford as MLA for North Antrim in July 2025 and became the party's education spokesperson.
He is a regular commentator on local media in Northern Ireland.
Mr Burrows is from Bangor in Co Down, and was a police officer for 22 years where he held a number of senior roles, including Area Commander in Derry and head of the PSNI's Discipline Branch.
The UUP's former director of communications said Mr Burrows is unknown in political circles.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Alex Kane said that although he is known by government ministers in terms of dealing with justice and security issues, "in terms of having political ambitions, I don't think anyone even thought about that."
He added: "So, a few months ago when they said he was going to be co-opted into the North Antrim constituency, that came as a huge shock."
Mr Kane said that in terms of Mr Burrows' leadership, this "is going to be an enormous problem", because "it's not just about getting himself known to the public, getting the party ready for the election, it's getting himself known to the Ulster Unionist Party."
He said the party has not had an election contest for a party leader since 2012, and it has had five leaders since then.
He said that Mr Burrows spoke last week about wanting to make the Ulster Unionist Party the largest party.
"I think all he can do at this stage is try and keep some sort of cohesion in the party, because ... the Ulster Unionist party still has huge internal problems in terms of what it sees as its role, relevance, purpose and direction."
