The assembly election in Northern Ireland is nearing conclusion, with the republican party Sinn Féin expected to gain the most seats for the first time.

It is competing with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has seen its vote share fall, for the right to designate the next prime minister.

The unionist party has been the largest in government.

With 81 of 90 seats filled, the cross-community Alliance Party has made advances.

Sinn Féin obtaining the most seats in Northern Ireland would be a first for a nationalist party in the province.

In the 2017 assembly election, the DUP took 28 seats, narrowly ahead of Sinn Féin’s 27.

After a disappointing performance, Sinn Féin currently has 23 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

The DUP has 23, Alliance has 17, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has nine, and the Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP) has six.

Nichola Mallon, the SDLP’s Deputy Leader and the party’s executive representative as Infrastructure Minister, has lost her seat in Belfast North.

Despite a significant increase in vote share, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) only retained one seat; one independent unionist was elected, and Gerry Carroll of People before Profit was re-elected in Belfast West.

Counting is underway at three locations: Belfast’s Titanic Exhibition Centre, Jordanstown’s Ulster University, and Magherafelt’s Meadowbank Sports Arena, with the prospect of more.