The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed 17-member Long-Term Election Observation Mission (LTEOM) to monitor the forthcoming general election.

The observers are already in the field, according to a statement from the organisation.

According to the statement, the first batch of the regional observers returned to the country on March 2, following the postponement of the elections.

It disclosed that the LTEOM team was part of the larger 250-strong ECOWAS election observation mission, headed by former Ghanaian president, John Kufuor, named by the President of the ECOWAS Commission H.E. Kadré Desire Ouédraogo to monitor the elections.

It reminded the observers of their mandate and neutrality, noting that the deployment of the poll observers by the commission was consistent with the regional protocol on democracy, good governance and demonstration of support and solidarity with member states organising elections toward the deepening of democracy and good governance in the region.