SINN Féin's poll topping totals in Foyle will help the party draw a line under the controversial departure of two sitting MLAs in the area last year.
Former republican prisoner and former assembly member Martina Anderson, along with assembly colleague Karen Mullan, were asked to consider their positions by party chiefs as part of a review following two poor elections for Sinn Féin in Derry.
Ms Anderson later described the party recommendation for her to stand down as a "body blow".
However, the internal party purge seemed a world away at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt when Padraig Delargy, who was co-opted to the assembly last year, secured 9,471 first preference votes and was elected on the first count.
"We are delighted we don't take any voter for granted. We are delighted so many people have come out in resounding numbers across Derry and across the north to vote for real change," he said.
"From day one from this election we will be back in Stormont to deliver on health, housing, jobs, education and particularly the cost of living crisis."
Mr Delargy added he is "looking forward to the next five years to be able to continue to deliver for the people of Derry".
His running mate Ciara Ferguson brought home a total of 5,913 votes and with a quota of 7,811 was relying on transfers last night.
The SDLPs Mark H Durkan also retained his assembly seat on the first count with a vote of 7,999.
Keen to capitalise on the success of party leader Colum Eastwood's showing in the last Westminster election, the SDLP ran a third candidate in the constituency.
Sinead McLaughlin, who replaced Mr Eastwood when he became an MP, secured 3,189 votes while Brian Tierney grabbed 3,279.
Mr Durkan remained hopeful last night that his party colleagues would join him at Stormont.
"While it's always a relief and a pleasure to get elected personally obviously now out attentions are on our colleagues who have a possibility, albeit, a slight one of getting three seats here in Foyle," he said.
"There will be a lot of twists and turns in this count yet but we are still hopeful of that."
Mr Durkan said he went to the polls on his record.
"I was confident on my own record of work over many years in the constituency," he said.
"I was confident over the last number of months that work has been recognised."
"My colleagues have got on well as well, it's just a pity now I think looking at it, our vote hasn't spread a wee bit differently."
Meanwhile the DUP's Gary Middleton polled just over 4,000 first preferences and will be relying heavily on transfers if he is to take a seat.
