The controversial elective conference of the African National Congress (ANC) Eastern Cape is now set to take place next week following a rubber-stamp from the party's national bosses.

This weekend, hundreds of delegates were expected at the East London International Convention Centre for the provincial congress, but it was postponed due to pending political disputes.

In a letter to Lulama Ngcukayitobi, co-ordinator of the provincial task team, ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile instructed that the conference be rescheduled within the next seven days.

According to Mashatile, the province is legally ready to proceed with its conference.

"We note that the province has a verified total membership of 120 320 and that, of the 701 branches in the province, 670 are verified and 642 have qualified. [This] exceeds the prescribed threshold of 70% of branches in good standing. However, we also note that a number of disputes have been lodged with, and are being dealt with by, the National Dispute Resolution Committee (NDRC). We are awaiting a report from the NDRC on the finalisation of these matters," he said.

Furthermore, Mashatile instructed that the conference be rescheduled to take place within the next seven days, "but not later than [between] 28 April [and] 1 May 2022".

On Tuesday, the ANC's provincial working committee postponed the conference citing disputes.

Complaints about procedures have been prevalent in the province, and its leaders suspected that the issues could impact the holding of the conference.

The province last held a conference in 2017, known as the "festival of chairs", because of the violence witnessed during the gathering.

The conference is expected to see a fierce battle over political control of the province between former provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane and Babalo Madikizela, the former treasurer of the province.

The men have competing slates supporting them.

However, party insiders said there was a firm push for the two to unite on one leadership ticket.

Sources said this move was canvassed by senior party leaders loyal to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The outcome of the provincial conference will have a significant bearing on the ANC's national elective conference planned for December, when Ramaphosa is likely going to seek a second term as party leader.

Mashatile commended the party's Eastern Cape leaders for making progress at branch biennial general meetings and regional conferences.

Earlier this month, a group of ANC members in the Eastern Cape stopped the Dr WB Rubusana regional conference from going ahead.

The group made allegations of membership manipulation and procedural errors in the run-up to the conference.