Lagos — The Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (Inec) announced on Thursday in Abuja that candidates for Saturday's presidential election will not have their photos on the ballot papers. Instead, voters will see their respective party logos.

Inec said the unexpected death of a candidate, Democracy Alliance nominee Chief Adebayo Adefarati, as well as last week's Supreme Court ruling clearing the way for Vice President Atiku Abubakar to run, had made the prospects of printing new ballots reflecting the late changes a near impossible task.

This decision is likely to add to the prevailing sense of confusion, as voters seem more familiar with their candidates' faces than their party logos. However the top three presidential contenders have little to worry about, given that their parties enjoy greater name recognition.

A number of opposition candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, earlier this week called for a full boycott after their initial request for a postponement of Saturday's polls was denied, but Muhammadu Buhari, the All Nigerian Peoples' Party candidate and former military head of state, reportedly rejected the call.

Buhari unilaterally announced that he will participate in Saturday's elections, drawing the anger of Abubukar, who called Buhari's move "a stab in the back." Abubukar later announced he will participate.

Buhari urged voters to go to the polls and "protect their votes" until the results are announced. "I have carefully consulted with numerous political friends and I am of the opinion that boycott is not a democratic action because by boycotting the election we forfeit our right to participate", he said in a statement.

With additional reporting from Francois Gouahinga