Abe resigned last month as the prime minister following health problems.

The 71-year-old Suga serves as Chief Cabinet Secretary in the present administration.

Suga is a close ally of Abe and is expected to carry forward the latter's legacy

The LDP candidate will face a vote on Wednesday, which he is expected to win comfortably.

If elected, Suga will finish the current period, due to end in September 2021.

Speaking about Suga's appointment, Koichi Nakano, dean and political science professor at Tokyo's Sophia University, told the BBC, "Shinzo Abe and the other party bosses picked and joined the bandwagon for Mr Suga precisely because he was the best 'continuity' candidate, someone who they think could continue Abe government without Abe."

Kishida Fumio and Shigeru Ishiba were the other two candidates running for the top post.

Fumio served as foreign minister in the Abe cabinet and is heading the party's policy research council.

Ishiba is a former defence minister under Abe and an ex LDP secretary-general.

Both lacked endorsement by the outgoing prime minister.