'Sacrifice we have to pay'
"What happened is another demonstration that the country and the electoral body is totally committed to ensuring that they conduct [a] credible vote," Mr Jonathan told the BBC.
It is the first time the president has spoken about the mayhem of Nigeria's elections at the weekend.
Our reporter says after travelling for hours to return to their villages to cast their ballots, tens of millions of people were frustrated.
Many now say they cannot afford to make that journey again and there are worries people will not bother to vote next time, she says.
But Mr Jonathan pleaded with the country to make the effort again.
"It's a sacrifice that all of us are paying. I was also in the field, but I have to come back," he said.
"We really regret what happened. A number of us have spent money, to go to their homes to vote… It's a sacrifice we all have to pay."
Our correspondent says after a decade of rigged elections Nigerians are longing for a real change.
For President Jonathan the stakes are high, she says.
He has made it clear electoral reform is crucial for Nigeria's future - he even promised US President Barack Obama that he would deliver a free and fair vote.
"We want to make sure there are significant changes in this country. It's only when we can select our leaders that we are in a position to give our people what they want.
"So the election is very, very important to us."
The danger for him lies in winning a tainted elections process as he does not want to carry that baggage into his first full term of office, our reporter says.
"What happened is another demonstration that the country and the electoral body is totally committed to ensuring that they conduct [a] credible vote," Mr Jonathan told the BBC.
It is the first time the president has spoken about the mayhem of Nigeria's elections at the weekend.
Our reporter says after travelling for hours to return to their villages to cast their ballots, tens of millions of people were frustrated.
Many now say they cannot afford to make that journey again and there are worries people will not bother to vote next time, she says.
But Mr Jonathan pleaded with the country to make the effort again.
"It's a sacrifice that all of us are paying. I was also in the field, but I have to come back," he said.
"We really regret what happened. A number of us have spent money, to go to their homes to vote… It's a sacrifice we all have to pay."
Our correspondent says after a decade of rigged elections Nigerians are longing for a real change.
For President Jonathan the stakes are high, she says.
He has made it clear electoral reform is crucial for Nigeria's future - he even promised US President Barack Obama that he would deliver a free and fair vote.
"We want to make sure there are significant changes in this country. It's only when we can select our leaders that we are in a position to give our people what they want.
"So the election is very, very important to us."
The danger for him lies in winning a tainted elections process as he does not want to carry that baggage into his first full term of office, our reporter says.
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