Atiku absent at 2019 elections peace pact signing

You're referring to the 2019 Nigerian general elections!

Yes, it's true that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time, was absent at the signing of the National Peace Accord on January 14, 2019, ahead of the February 16, 2019 presidential election.

The National Peace Accord was a peace pact signed by all the presidential candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other candidates, to promote peaceful conduct during the election.

Atiku's absence was attributed to a disagreement with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the timing of the signing ceremony. Atiku's campaign team had requested a change in the timing of the event, which was initially scheduled for 10:00 am, but INEC refused to accommodate their request.

As a result, Atiku's team decided not to participate in the signing ceremony, citing a lack of trust in the electoral process. This move was seen as a significant development in the lead-up to the election, with many observers expressing concerns about the potential for violence and unrest.

Despite Atiku's absence, the other presidential candidates, including Buhari, signed the peace accord, committing themselves to peaceful conduct during the election.