A NEW DUP MLA will be co-opted into Christopher Stalford's seat next week.
The party had been expected to announce its choice for the vacant South Belfast seat on Monday, following Mr Stalford's sudden death last month.
However, it is understood that the process was delayed to give party members time to mourn before Mr Stalford's funeral on Saturday.
Assembly speaker Alex Maskey wrote to chief electoral officer Virginia McVea on Monday to inform her of the vacancy in the assembly.
Ms McVea is thought to have now written to the DUP to inform the party that it has seven days to choose a new MLA.
A DUP spokesman told The Irish News that party officers will discuss possible candidates this week. The assembly's co-option process was introduced as part of the d'Hondt system because holding a by-election could change the party political balance within a five-member constituency. The process safeguards smaller parties who would be likely to lose out in a by-election.
The co-option rules for local councils allow parties more time to choose their candidates. Parties have 28 days to co-opt a councillor, rather than the seven allowed by the assembly.
DUP councillor Tracy Kelly, who managed Mr Stalford's constituency office, is tipped as among the front-runners.
However, former party leader Edwin Poots, who failed to be chosen as a candidate in South Down earlier this month, could stand for election in South Belfast in May.
Last year, then DUP councillor Stephen Dunne was co-opted as a North Down MLA to replace his father, Gordon Dunne, who had stepped down due to serious illness.
Gordon Dunne later died of cancer, aged 62.
