The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has charged Barrister Patrick Umoh, a lawyer to former Senate Minority leader, Godswill Obot Akpabio, to desist from telling lies and sponsoring cheap blackmail against the commission.

Recalled Umoh had accused INEC of denying the legal team of Senator Akpabio access to electoral materials of the just-concluded 2019 Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election to help their case in the tribunal.

But responding to Umoh’s allegations, the Public Affairs Officer of the Commission in Akwa Ibom State, Don Etukudo, disclosed in a statement yesterday that the allegations was a cheap blackmail, stressing that Akwa Ibom INEC under the leadership of Mike Igini was working round the clock to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

He reminded Barrister Umoh that lawyers were men of honour who at all-time should draw a line between bad politics and advancing the cause of Justice.

“We urge the good people of Akwa Ibom State to disregard this cheap blackmail by Barr. Patrick Umoh and his cohorts and be assured that INEC under the leadership of Mike Igini, Esq, will at all times work to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

“Barr. Patrick Umoh must be told that Lawyers are men of honour and should be honourable enough to draw a line between bad politics and advancing the cause of justice,” Etukudo said.