Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, was absent at the signing of a peace pact for 2019 presidential candidates in Abuja.

The Peace Accord is an undertaking by all the presidential candidates to ensure peaceful and rancor free campaigns before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

The candidates are also expected to avoid hate speech, fake news or any act capable of causing socio-political unrest in the country.

However, Atiku, the major challenger to President Muhammadu Buhari who was among those expected at the event was absent.

Spokespersons for Atiku and the PDP separately told PREMIUM TIMES they were not aware of the event, which began at 3:00 p.m., and promised to make urgent findings and revert.

Meanwhile, President Buhari arrived at the International Conference Centre to join other candidates in signing the peace agreement which was drafted by the National Peace Committee.

Abdulsalam Abubakar, a former Nigerian military ruler, is the convener of the committee and the event.

A similar pact was signed by presidential candidates in 2015 and the committee was widely deemed crucial to the peaceful outcome of that contentious election.