Peter O'Neill has been invited by Papua New Guinea's Governor General Sir Michael Ogio to form the next government.
The leader of the People's National Congress, the party which has emerged from the general election with the most MPS, Mr O'Neill has announced he has the support of various other political parties to lead a coalition government.
The coalition is understood to include as many as 80 out of PNG's 111 parliamentarians.
Mr O'Neill is expected to be elected on the floor of parliament on Friday.
His former deputy, Belden Namah has taken out newspaper ads offering the job of prime minister if MPs form government with his PNG party.
