'No hope of Yameen's appeal verdict before nomination expiry'

"Hope to decide Yameen’s appeal with the High Court has been dashed," is what he said first.

This statement came from a member of the team working closest to former President Abdulla Yameen. Indeed, Yameen's team's hopes with the High Court case have now been lost.

“We were hoping that the High Court will hold the hearing today and decide within two days,” the aide, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

"But today we learned that two judges will not appear in court. So the hope of appeal is lost”.

The aide said Justice Huzaifa Mohamed and Justice Mohamed Saleem, who sit on the bench hearing the case in the High Court, would not appear in court.

"After the holidays, Huzaifa was also at home. Saleem was abroad. He did not return to Maldives today," he said.

This could not be confirmed with the High Court.

A source close to Yameen said it is now certain that the High Court will not decide on his appeal before he can file for the presidential election. Therefore, the next step is to submit the form as planned, he said.

"Then we will have to submit the form. Then the Supreme Court," he said.

Nominations for the September 9 presidential election are being accepted from 9am Sunday to 2pm on August 7 from the election headquarters at Dharubaaruge.

The opposition PPM-PNC has handed over their presidential ticket to Yameen.