Özdilek became Defense Minister, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in 1960 after the Turkish military organized the May 1960 Turkish coup d'état and overthrew the government of Adnan Menderes. The following year, he became acting Prime Minister during military control of Turkey after the previous Prime Minister, Cemal Gürsel, became President. He held the position until the government was once again under civilian control with İsmet İnönü as Prime Minister. Later, he served in the Senate of the Republic and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.