The Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem [right] makes his way to court

The Court of Disputed Returns will this afternoon rule on whether the petitioners challenging the results of the 2018 Election will be able to call in their witnesses.

The election petition was filed earlier this month regarding issues arising out of the conduct, count and tallying of results in the election

Some of the matters raised include claims of unlawful conduct by election candidates under the Electoral Act.

There are also alleged breaches by the Supervisor of Elections of his duties under the Electoral Act.

SODELPA and the National Federation Party counsel Filimoni Vosarogo indicated in court today that they will be calling eight primary witnesses.

The witnesses include Rosy Lagi, Seini Nabou, Subrail Narayan, Kamal Iyer, Adi Litia Qionibaravi, Amele Duituturaga, and two party agents.

Vosarogo says it is expected to take three days to give evidence in court.

However, this has been strongly objected by the respondents’ lawyers Devenesh Sharma, Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma and Nilesh Prasad who is representing the Electoral Commission.

The 27 Members of Parliament, the Supervisor of Elections and Faiyaz Koya are respondents in this matter.

Devenesh Sharma told the court that they are objecting the application to call for oral evidence

Sharma says they have filed their response in relation to the petition and the affidavits and everything is covered in the answers.

Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma also opposed the application for oral evidence.

Meanwhile, Nilesh Prasad says only 11 days remain to deal with the matter and there are three petition matters before the court.

He says if the application to call for oral evidence is allowed for one matter, then it has to be allowed for the two other matters as well.

The Court of Disputed Returns will make a ruling on this at 2.30pm.