Former UTV reporter Fearghal McKinney is to stand in the forthcoming Westminster election as the SDLP candidate for Fermanagh South Tyrone.
We’re sorry. This video is unavailable from your location.
Submitting his candidacy application to the party on Wednesday, Mr McKinney admitted he had a fight on his hands to capture the seat from incumbent Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew.
The SDLP trailed in fourth in the 2005 poll with only 14% of the vote and a 7,230 tally, compared to the 18,700 votes secured by Mrs Gildernew.
The 47-year-old from Enniskillen left UTV in 2009 to set up his own digital media business. He is involved in the ultralocal news website Fermanagh TV.
UTV's political Editor Ken Reid broke the news in his blog on Tuesday evening, but speculation had been mounting within the last week.
Mr McKinney, who spent 25 years as a journalist, is the second media figure to seek nomination after former UTV colleague Mike Nesbitt announced his decision to contest the Strangford seat vacated by disgraced DUP MP Iris Robinson for the Conservatives and Unionists.
"This is a new era for politics and a new era for the SDLP," Mr McKinney said.
"This country needs a strong SDLP and the people of the North need strong representation at Westminster."
SDLP MLA in the area Tommy Gallagher is not putting his name forward for the Westminster poll, meaning Mr McKinney should have a clear run at the party's nomination.
"This election will be won and lost on the doorsteps and I am keen to build on the good work of Tommy Gallagher and others in the weeks and months ahead," Mr McKinney said.
"I know I have a fight ahead of me to win the seat but I am looking forward to the challenge."
Party leader Margaret Ritchie joined Mr McKinney at SDLP headquarters in Belfast as he announced his decision.
"When I became leader, I promised to bring through a new generation of SDLP representatives," she said.
"This week I announced 16 junior spokespersons and I am delighted to announce today that Fearghal McKinney has joined our team and wants to represent the party in the Westminster election.
"The SDLP are offering people a new agenda and with the addition of Fearghal we are offering people a new politician with an exciting future."
Mr Gallagher welcomed Mr McKinney into the party ranks.
"Fearghal was raised in Enniskillen and is well-known in his local community. He knows the task ahead and will have my full backing and support," he said.
Mrs Gildernew insisted Sinn Fein was the only nationalist party which could take the seat, adding the former journalist's decision to stand had been "something of an open secret for some time despite his recent denials."
She also speculated that Mr McKinney was being groomed to take over Mr Gallagher's place in Stormont for the anticipated Assembly election in 2011.
"The reality is that the only party on the nationalist side who can win this seat is Sinn Fein. It seems that today's announcement is more about a promise that Fearghal McKinney will get a free run in the next Assembly elections in place of local MLA Tommy Gallagher", Mrs Gildernew said.
© UTV News