The rioting has raised questions over whether Africa's most populous nation will be able to hold governorship and state assembly polls in its 36 states on April 26, the third and final stage of its election cycle after last Saturday's presidential race and parliamentary polls the previous week.
Jonathan was steadfast.
"I assure you all that calm is being restored in troubled parts of the country and that the elections scheduled for next Tuesday will go on as planned," he said.

State governors are powerful figures in the African oil producer, controlling budgets larger than those of some African countries and wielding influence over policy.

The elections had already been expected to be the most volatile of the three polls but the violence this week has raised the stakes even further.

Homes of ruling party members, electoral commission offices and police stations have been targeted, as have members of the National Youth Corps, who are helping run the elections.

Buhari, who said on Wednesday the rigging of results had been enough to deprive him of victory, has failed to issue a clear call to youths perpetrating violence in his name to stop.

He told foreign journalists at his residence in Abuja on Wednesday that he would be out campaigning later this week for his Congress for Progressive Change party ahead of next Tuesday's state governorship votes