He played a leading role in the country's independence, and led the National Union Movement of Equatorial Guinea [es] from 1959 until his death.

However, after the murder of several independence leaders such as Acacio Mañé Ela and Enrique Nvo [es] and the arrests of 24 others in 1959, many nationalists chose to flee into exile and continue the movement abroad, including Ondó Edú.

[9] His Deputy (or Vice President) was Francisco Macías Nguema of the political party Idea Popular de Guinea Ecuatorial (IPGE).

[11] In foreign policy, Ondó Edú established good relations with Gabon and its president Léon M'ba (also a Fang).

[8] He campaigned as a moderate who supported continued ties with Spain after independence, while his main opponent, Macías Nguema, was vocally critical of further Spanish involvement in Equatoguinean affairs post-independence.

[14] Ondó Edú had the support of then-Deputy Prime Minister of Spain Luis Carrero Blanco,[15] the wider Spanish government, businessmen, the middle class, and various local ethnic groups.

[17] On 11 October 1968, Ondó Edú was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella The Catholic by Minister of Information and Tourism Manuel Fraga on behalf of the Spanish government.

[15] However, according to one account, Ondó Edú was tortured in Black Beach prison for ten days by Mariano Mdemendongo, a member of the national guard, before finally being executed.