Political analyst Karima Brown says the numbers between the two frontrunners, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa, are close as the the provinces are finalising nominating their preferred candidate.
Reports suggest provinces are working behind the scenes to ensure an uncontested battle between the two front runners.
However, Brown says it is not clear how unity within the ANC will be achieved.
Read: Political Desk: Mkhize's 50 day mark to unify ANC a tall order - Karima Brown
The key question that one has to ask on this unity matter is that who will be President? Will Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma be President, will she serve under Cyril Ramaphosa and will the reverse be true?
— Karima Brown, political analyst and host of the Karima Brown Show
How one goes into discussions around unity, it's hard to tell.
— Karima Brown, political analyst and host of the Karima Brown Show
It is a very tight, dicey game that they are playing...
— Karima Brown, Political analyst
Brown says it is also hard to tell what kind of ANC is going to emerge after the conference and whether the two factions will be able to co-exist.
To hear more of this analysis ahead of the ANC Elective Conference, listen below:
This article first appeared on 702 : What kind of ANC is going emerge after the conference? Karima Brown