Cross River Assembly Advances Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Bill to Second Reading

The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a proposed law seeking to prohibit same-sex marriage and civil unions for its second reading.

The measure, officially titled the *Bill for a Law to Prohibit Contract of Marriage or Civil Union Entered into Between Persons of the Same Sex, Solemnisation of Same, Whether Cultural or in Accordance with Any Statute in Existence, and for Matters Connected Therewith, 2026*, was sponsored by Hilary Bisong, the lawmaker representing Boki II State Constituency, alongside 10 co-sponsors.

If fully enacted, the legislation will:

Ban Recognition: Prohibit the recognition or solemnisation of same-sex marriages and civil unions within Cross River State, including unions contracted outside the state or internationally.

Define Marriage: Restrict the legal recognition of marriage exclusively to unions between a man and a woman.

Establish Penalties: Introduce legal penalties for offenders, as well as individuals who aid, promote, or facilitate same-sex unions.

During the plenary session, lawmakers voted unanimously to advance the bill, arguing that the legislation is vital to safeguarding the state’s cultural, moral, and family values. Speaking on the floor of the House, Speaker Elvert Ayambem stated that the legislature holds a constitutional and moral duty to defend the institution of marriage as defined by local customs and traditions, asserting that the Assembly would not endorse practices inconsistent with the state’s cultural norms.

Following the successful second reading, the bill has been referred to the appropriate committee for detailed legislative scrutiny before returning to the floor for a third reading and final passage.