THE deputy leader of the SDLP faces losing his Stormont seat as the count continues into the evening for South Belfast.
Fearghal McKinney was co-opted to the assembly almost three years ago and in November was elected deputy leader of his party.
But the former UTV broadcaster last night appeared to be in a fight for the final seat in one of the toughest constituency battles of the 2016 assembly elections.
It took until the fifth count for South Belfast's first new MLA to be confirmed, Sinn Féin's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.
Mr Ó Muilleoir was returned to Stormont after topping the poll with 5,207 first preferences, falling just 40 short of being elected on the first count.
He reached the exact quota required at the fifth count – following transfers from the eliminated votes of unionist candidate Billy Dickson.
The former Belfast lord mayor expressed surprise that Mr Dickson's transfers got him over the line, joking, "I will send him a nice card."
"It is a real thrill to top the poll in South Belfast and I want to thank the voters. I am looking forward to serving those people," the 57-year-old said.
Mr McKinney was seen leaving the count at Belfast's Titanic Exhibition Centre before lunchtime, ahead of the first preference votes being announced.
The 53-year-old, who was appointed to Stormont after Conall McDevitt stood down in 2013, came seventh in the first preference count with 2,845 votes.
His party colleague Claire Hanna is expected to retain her seat after coming second in the first preferences with 4,516.
Just five votes behind her was the DUP's Emma Little Pengelly on 4,511, followed by party colleague Christopher Stalford on 3,570.
The result puts the DUP in contention for increasing from one to two seats in the constituency.
The Green Party is also in the running to secure a seat after Clare Bailey polled 3,521 in first preferences.
Alliance is expected to retain one seat after Paula Bradshaw received 3,332 votes and party colleague Duncan Morrow received 2,691.
But with the UUP's Rodney McCune polling 2,466 in first preferences, his party could lose out.
Elsewhere, independent unionist Ruth Patterson received just 475 first preferences despite considerable publicity due to rivalry with the DUP's Emma Little Pengelly.
Ms Patterson was expelled from the DUP in November after criticising the leadership for appointing Ms Pengelly as both an MLA and junior minister within the space of a month.
She didn't appear at the count at Belfast's Titanic Exhibition Centre yesterday, but her campaign manager Jamie Bryson attended.
Holding a bottle of Coca-Cola as he leaned against railings inside, the loyalist flag protester turned blogger said he took "full responsibility" for the unsuccessful campaign.
"Ruth Patterson worked very hard, and she will now consider the future and what she wants to do," the 26-year-old said.
"I have many plans for myself for the future, and I'm looking forward to it."
The turnout in South Belfast was 54.25 per cent, a slight increase on the 52 per cent in 2011.
