The Supreme Court on Sunday refused to extend the deadline to file candidacy papers for the September 9 presidential election.
The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) requested the top court to issue an order to give PPM more time to nominate an alternative candidate if former President Abdulla Yameen's candidacy rejection is upheld.
The top court on Sunday ruled that Yameen is ineligible to contest the presidential election due to his prison sentence and upheld the EC's rejection of his candidacy.
But the court did not mention the request for candidacy extension in its ruling.
The deadline to file candidacy papers ends on Monday. The deadline is stipulated in the Presidential Election Act.
PPM's sister party the People's National Congress (PNC) on Thursday approved the nomination of a candidate in the event that Yameen's candidacy is rejected.
PNC elected Mayor Mohamed Muizzu as the candidate. But the PPM wants to field a candidate from the party if Yameen cannot contest.
The largest opposition party claims Muizzu's candidacy will be submitted only if the PPM cannot field an alternative candidate.
