SINN Féin has declined to outline the full process which saw Michelle O'Neill selected to head up its Stormont team.
The health minister was yesterday unveiled as Martin McGuinness's successor and is described by the party as its "northern leader".
Ms O'Neill was one of two Sinn Féin MLAs linked to the job, with Conor Murphy having been earmarked for the role for some time.
By Saturday, however, with pictures circulating of the Mid Ulster MLA at Gerry Adams's side during a conference in Dublin, it was clear that Ms O'Neill was the anointed one.
Her appointment was duly ratified by the party's ard chomhairle on the same day.
The process which led to her initial selection, however, is unclear.
While most political parties run elections to select personnel for top jobs, Sinn Féin takes a different approach.
One party insider said an extensive review of structures in recent years, driven by long-time leader Gerry Adams, meant it was now within the gift of the Sinn Féin president to make such appointments.
When The Irish News asked the party about the process involved in selecting Mr McGuinness's successor, a spokesman said only: "The Sinn Féin president brought forward a recommendation that was ratified by the ard chomhairle on Saturday."
