The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday urged Benin presidential candidates, leaders of political parties and their supporters to ensure the March 6 presidential elections are peaceful.

In a statement released in Cotonou, ECOWAS said it will deploy a mission of 136 observers to monitor the elections and ensure they are free, fair and credible.

This observer mission, the same source explained, will be led by former Guinea Prime Minister Kabine Komara, and will cover the country's 12 regions.

"The monitoring will focus on transparency, fairness and conduct of the presidential elections," the statement said.

On the eve of the elections, the ECOWAS observer mission will express its opinion and formulate, if need be, some recommendations for different parties taking part in the electoral process.

Over 4.7 million voters will head to polls on March 6 for the first round of the presidential elections in which 33 candidates will be contesting.

Outgoing President Boni Yayi will not contest as his second constitutional term ends on April 6, 2016. Endit

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