A 10-member Commonwealth Observer Group has been deployed in the country, ahead of the elections on March 28 and April 11.

Mr Bakili Muluzi, a former Malawian president and chair of the group, who briefed newsmen in Abuja, on Monday, said the visit of the group was to observe the elections.

“The group was constituted by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Mr Kamalesh Sharma, following an invitation from the chair of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Our team includes current and former politicians and members of parliament, serving members of national electoral commissions, as well as representatives of civil society, young people and the media.

“Our Commonwealth Observer Group arrived on March 21; our mandate is to observe and assess the pre-election period, activities on polling day and the post-election period.

“Throughout, we will consider all factors relating to the credibility of the electoral processes. We will assess whether or not the elections are conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself, including the constitutional framework and the other international commitments,” he said.

Muluzi, however, said that the group would “not take the risk” to deploy members to the north-eastern part of the country, due to security concerns.